From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Physical \Phys"ic*al\ (f[i^]z"[i^]*kal), a.
1. Of or pertaining to nature (as including all created
existences); in accordance with the laws of nature; also,
of or relating to natural or material things, or to the
bodily structure, as opposed to things mental, moral,
spiritual, or imaginary; material; natural; as, armies and
navies are the physical force of a nation; the body is the
physical part of man.
[1913 Webster]
Labor, in the physical world, is . . . employed in
putting objects in motion. --J. S. Mill.
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A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere
physical force. --Macaulay.
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2. Of or pertaining to physics, or natural philosophy;
treating of, or relating to, the causes and connections of
natural phenomena; as, physical science; physical laws.
"Physical philosophy." --Pope.
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3. Perceptible through a bodily or material organization;
cognizable by the senses; external; as, the physical,
opposed to chemical, characters of a mineral.
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4. Of or pertaining to physic, or the art of medicine;
medicinal; curative; healing; also, cathartic; purgative.
[Obs.] "Physical herbs." --Sir T. North.
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Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
To walk unbraced, and suck up the humors
Of the dank morning? --Shak.
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Physical astronomy, that part of astronomy which treats of
the causes of the celestial motions; specifically, that
which treats of the motions resulting from universal
gravitation.
Physical education, training of the bodily organs and
powers with a view to the promotion of health and vigor.
Physical examination (Med.), an examination of the bodily
condition of a person.
Physical geography. See under Geography.
Physical point, an indefinitely small portion of matter; a
point conceived as being without extension, yet having
physical properties, as weight, inertia, momentum, etc.; a
material point.
Physical signs (Med.), the objective signs of the bodily
state afforded by a physical examination.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
physical
adj 1: involving the body as distinguished from the mind or
spirit; "physical exercise"; "physical suffering"; "was
sloppy about everything but her physical appearance"
[ant: mental]
2: relating to the sciences dealing with matter and energy;
especially physics; "physical sciences"; "physical laws"
3: having substance or material existence; perceptible to the
senses; "a physical manifestation"; "surrounded by tangible
objects"
4: according with material things or natural laws (other than
those peculiar to living matter); "a reflex response to
physical stimuli"
5: characterized by energetic bodily activity; "a very physical
dance performance"
6: impelled by physical force especially against resistance;
"forcible entry"; "a real cop would get physical"; "strong-
arm tactics" [syn: forcible, physical, strong-arm]
7: concerned with material things; "physical properties"; "the
physical characteristics of the earth"; "the physical size of
a computer"
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008) [foldoc]:
physical
<jargon> The opposite of logical in its jargon sense.
Compare real, virtual, and transparent.
It is said that what you can touch and see is real; what you
can see but not touch is virtual; what you can touch but not
see is transparent; and what you can neither touch nor see is
probably imaginary.
(2001-10-26)