sewing machine

noun

any of various foot-operated or electric machines for sewing or making stitches, ranging from machines with a shuttle for a spool of thread and a needle for sewing garments to industrial machines for sewing leather, book pages together, etc.

Origin of sewing machine

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for sewing machine

Lizzie, indeed, is fond of work; she is busy all day long, and it is evident that her sewing-machine is not allowed to rust.
London's Heart|B. L. (Benjamin Leopold) Farjeon
Here is the sewing-machine, with all its nice details, like the button-hole maker.
Stories of Invention|Edward E. Hale
In the battle of life every girl who could work a sewing-machine or make a matchbox was of more account than she.
In the Year of Jubilee|George Gissing
For instance, she can contract for the purchase of a sewing-machine for her own use.
The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume IV|Various

Wonder they didn't make an ice-chest or a sewing-machine out of it!
The Crimson Sweater|Ralph Henry Barbour

British Dictionary definitions for sewing machine

sewing machine

noun

any machine designed to sew material. It is now usually driven by electric motor but is sometimes operated by a foot treadle or by hand

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sewing machine

noun

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Origin of sewing machine

Examples from the Web for sewing machine

sewing machine

noun