machinery

[ muh-shee-nuh-ree ]

noun

, plural ma·chin·er·ies.

1. an assemblage of machines or mechanical apparatuses:

   the machinery of a factory.

2. the parts of a machine, collectively:

   the machinery of a watch.

3. a group of people or a system by which action is maintained or by which some result is obtained:

   the machinery of government.

   Synonyms: setup, structure, organization

4. a group of contrivances for producing stage effects.
5. the group or aggregate of literary machines, especially those of supernatural agency epic machinery in an epic poem.

machinery

/ məˈʃiːnərɪ /

noun

1. machines, machine parts, or machine systems collectively
2. a particular machine system or set of machines
3. a system similar to a machine

   the machinery of government

4. literary devices used for effect in epic poetry

Other Words From

• anti·ma·chiner·y adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of machinery¹

First recorded in 1680–90; machine + -ery

Example Sentences

Each form or shadow is constructed from a brushstroke, introducing the artist’s hand into the cold machinery of camera work.

From Los Angeles Times

The first name on the concealed letter was that of John Westwood, a 28-year-old millwright - a tradesman who works with machinery - from Edinburgh.

From BBC

"In order to track the speed of this machinery at work, we tagged each of the two components with a different color," Chauvier said.

From Science Daily

When introduced into cells, the cellular machinery turns these mRNAs into proteins.

From Science Daily

Huge sheets of plastic have been draped over the machinery to protect it from the elements.

From BBC

Related Words

• apparatus
• appliance
• engine
• equipment
• gear
• instrument
• motor
• system
• tool
• utensil
• vehicle