machine tool

American  

noun

1. a power-operated machine, as a lathe, used for general cutting and shaping of metal and other substances.

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machine tool British  

noun

1. a power-driven machine, such as a lathe, miller, or grinder, that is used for cutting, shaping, and finishing metals or other materials

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Other Word Forms

• machine-tooled
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of machine tool

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

machine tool

For example, Sciortino cites the impressive number of workers who can operate CNC machines - a type of computer-controlled machine tool which can cut, carve, or shape materials including wood, metal, or plastic.

From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026

"Regional pockets and certain sectors have been hit harder," such as tourism and machine tool manufacturing, he said.

From Barron's ● Feb. 25, 2026

Manufacturers report persistent shortages of machine tool operators and technicians who can repair complex new equipment, skills that take time and training to learn.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026

The part is finished by trimming in a computer-controlled machine tool.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 17, 2023

The lathe is the oldest of machine tools and exists in a greater variety of forms than any other machine tool.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua