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. [ 1913 Webster ]
A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. Perceptible through a bodily or material organization; cognizable by the senses; external; as, the physical, opposed to chemical, characters of a mineral. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. Of or pertaining to physic, or the art of medicine; medicinal; curative; healing; also, cathartic; purgative. [ Obs. ] “Physical herbs.” Sir T. North. [ 1913 Webster ]
Is Brutus sick? and is it physical
To walk unbraced, and suck up the humors
Of the dank morning? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]