mechanism vs drive

mechanism and drive both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
mechanism	Yes	No	No	No
drive	Yes	No	Yes	No

As nouns, drive is a hyponym of mechanism; that is, drive is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than mechanism:

mechanism: device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function
drive: a mechanism by which force or power is transmitted in a machine

mechanism (noun)	drive (noun)
the technical aspects of doing something	a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)
device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function	a series of actions advancing a principle or tending toward a particular end
(philosophy) the philosophical theory that all phenomena can be explained in terms of physical or biological causes	hitting a golf ball off of a tee with a driver
a natural object resembling a machine in structure or function	the act of applying force to propel something
the atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction	(sports) a hard straight return (as in tennis or squash)
	the act of driving a herd of animals overland
	a wide scenic road planted with trees
	a road leading up to a private house
	a mechanism by which force or power is transmitted in a machine
	(computer science) a device that writes data onto or reads data from a storage medium
	the trait of being highly motivated
	a physiological state corresponding to a strong need or desire

mechanism (verb)	drive (verb)
	move into a desired direction of discourse
	(hunting) chase from cover into more open ground
	(hunting) search for game
	cause to function by supplying the force or power for or by controlling
	force into or from an action or state, either physically or metaphorically
	cause to move rapidly by striking or throwing with force
	hit very hard, as by swinging a bat horizontally
	strike with a driver, as in teeing off
	excavate horizontally
	push, propel, or press with force
	cause to move back by force or influence
	compel somebody to do something, often against his own will or judgment
	travel or be transported in a vehicle
	operate or control a vehicle
	cause someone or something to move by driving
	move by being propelled by a force
	urge forward
	proceed along in a vehicle
	strive and make an effort to reach a goal
	to compel or force or urge relentlessly or exert coercive pressure on, or motivate strongly
	work as a driver
	have certain properties when driven