machine

[ muh-sheen ]

noun

1. an apparatus consisting of interrelated parts with separate functions, used in the performance of some kind of work:

   a sewing machine.

2. a mechanical apparatus or contrivance; mechanism.
3. Mechanics.
   1. a device that transmits or modifies force or motion.
   2. Also called sim·ple ma·chine. any of six or more elementary mechanisms, as the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, screw, wedge, and inclined plane.
   3. Also called com·plex ma·chine. a combination of simple machines.
4. Older Use.
   1. an automobile or airplane.
   2. a typewriter.
5. a bicycle or motorcycle.
6. a vending machine:

   a cigarette machine.

7. any complex agency or operating system:

   the machine of government.

8. an organized group of persons that conducts or controls the activities of a political party or organization:

   He heads the Democratic machine in our city.

9. a person or thing that acts in a mechanical or automatic manner:

   Routine work had turned her into a machine.

10. any of various contrivances, especially those formerly used in the theater, for producing stage effects:

    The ancient Greeks used a theatrical machine to lower actors onto the stage.

11. some agency, personage, incident or other feature introduced for effect into a literary composition.

verb (used with object)

, ma·chined, ma·chin·ing.

1. to make, prepare, or finish with a machine or with machine tools.

machine

/ məˈʃiːn /

noun

1. an assembly of interconnected components arranged to transmit or modify force in order to perform useful work
2. Also calledsimple machine a device for altering the magnitude or direction of a force, esp a lever, screw, wedge, or pulley
3. a mechanically operated device or means of transport, such as a car, aircraft, etc
4. any mechanical or electrical device that automatically performs tasks or assists in performing tasks
5. 1. modifier denoting a firearm that is fully automatic as distinguished from semiautomatic
   2. ( in combination )

      machine pistol

      machine gun

6. any intricate structure or agency

   the war machine

7. a mechanically efficient, rigid, or obedient person
8. an organized body of people that controls activities, policies, etc
9. (esp in the classical theatre) a device such as a pulley to provide spectacular entrances and exits for supernatural characters
10. an event, etc, introduced into a literary work for special effect

verb

1. tr to shape, cut, or remove (excess material) from (a workpiece) using a machine tool
2. to use a machine to carry out a process on (something)

machine

/ mə-shēn′ /

1. A device that applies force, changes the direction of a force, or changes the strength of a force, in order to perform a task, generally involving work done on a load . Machines are often designed to yield a high mechanical advantage to reduce the effort needed to do that work.
2. ◆ A simple machine is a wheel, a lever, or an inclined plane. All other machines can be built using combinations of these simple machines; for example, a drill uses a combination of gears (wheels) to drive helical inclined planes (the drill-bit) to split a material and carve a hole in it.

Derived Forms

• maˌchinaˈbility, noun
• maˈchineless, adjective
• maˈchinable, adjective
• maˈchine-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• ma·chine·less adjective
• an·ti·ma·chine adjective
• un·ma·chined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of machine¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from French, from Latin māchina, from Doric Greek māchanā́ “pulley,” akin to mâchos “contrivance”; mechanic

Word History and Origins

Origin of machine¹

C16: via French from Latin māchina machine, engine, from Doric Greek makhana pulley; related to makhos device, contrivance

Example Sentences

Speaking to people in Downing Street and elsewhere, I detect a growing frustration with the capacity of the government machine to do what they believe needs doing.

From BBC

Many others — painters of Pontiacs, drugstore facades or gumball machines — were dismissed as frivolous.

From Los Angeles Times

They crowd around the towering machine as the rig starts burrowing into the dirt with a 140-pound hammer, digging into the ground with swift, strong strokes.

From Los Angeles Times

The machine will have to be designed so that the powder won’t blow away when air is pulled through the machine.

From NewsForKids.net

The exploitation of the latter machine learning approach makes it possible to distinguish between the BP II and BP I structures, and to analyze their evolution over time.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• apparatus
• appliance
• automobile
• engine
• gadget
• instrument
• motor
• tool
• vehicle