machine

¹ma·chine

noun, often attributive \mə-ˈshēn\

Definition of MACHINE

1

a archaic : a constructed thing whether material or immaterial

b : conveyance, vehicle; especially : automobile

c archaic : a military engine

d : any of various apparatuses formerly used to produce stage effects

e (1) : an assemblage of parts that transmit forces, motion, and energy one to another in a predetermined manner (2) : an instrument (as a lever) designed to transmit or modify the application of power, force, or motion

f : a mechanically, electrically, or electronically operated device for performing a task

g : a coin-operated device <a cigarette machine>

h : machinery —used with the or in plural

2

a : a living organism or one of its functional systems

b : one that resembles a machine (as in being methodical, tireless, or consistently productive) <a gifted publicist and quote machine — John Lancaster>

c (1) : a combination of persons acting together for a common end along with the agencies they use (2) : a highly organized political group under the leadership of a boss or small clique

3

: a literary device or contrivance introduced for dramatic effect

Examples of MACHINE

1. Shovels are tools; bulldozers are machines.
2. Do you know how to operate this machine?
3. The machine is working properly.
4. He was bragging about his new machine.
5. The coach turned the team into a scoring machine.
6. My younger brother is an eating machine.
7. a politician who dared to challenge the local party machine
8. Their army is a well-oiled machine.

Origin of MACHINE

Middle French, from Latin machina, from Greek mēchanē (Doric dialect machana), from mēchos means, expedient — more at may

First Known Use: circa 1545

Related to MACHINE

Synonyms

engine, motor

Related Words

converter, transformer; appliance, mechanism; equipment, tool; mill

Other Mechanical Engineering Terms

centrifuge, differential, flange, lathe, linchpin, pinion, plenum, ratchet, traction

Rhymes with MACHINE

Andine, arene, baleen, beguine, Benin, benzene, benzine, Bernstein, between, black bean, boreen, bovine, broad bean, buckbean, caffeine, canteen, carbine, careen, chlorine, chopine, chorine, citrine, codeine, colleen, convene, cotquean, cuisine, dasheen, dauphine, demean, demesne, dry-clean, dudeen, eighteen, Essene, e-zine, fanzine, fascine, fifteen, flavine, fluorine, fourteen, gamine, gangrene, glassine, gyrene, Hellene, hoatzin, horsebean, houseclean, khamsin, Ladin, lateen, latrine, Lublin, malines, marine, moline, moreen, morphine, nankeen, naphthene, Nicene, nineteen, nongreen, obscene, offscreen, on-screen, patine, piscine, poteen, praline, preteen, pristine, propine, Rabin, ratteen, ravine, red bean, routine, saline, saltine, Salween, sardine, sateen, scalene, serene, shagreen, shebeen, siren, Sistine, sixteen, Slovene, snap bean, soybean, spalpeen, string bean, strychnine, subteen, sunscreen, Szczecin, tacrine, takin, taurine, terrene, terrine, thirteen, Tolkien, tontine, tureen, umpteen, unclean, undine, unseen, vaccine, vitrine, wax bean, white bean, windscreen, yestreen, Yibin, zechin

²machine

transitive verb

ma·chinedma·chin·ing

Definition of MACHINE

: to process by or as if by machine; especially : to reduce or finish by or as if by turning, shaping, planing, or milling by machine-operated tools

— ma·chin·abil·i·ty also ma·chine·abil·i·ty \-ˌshē-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— ma·chin·able also ma·chine·able \-ˈshē-nə-bəl\ adjective

Examples of MACHINE

1. The parts of the engine have been precisely machined.

First Known Use of MACHINE

1853

Other Mechanical Engineering Terms

centrifuge, differential, flange, lathe, linchpin, pinion, plenum, ratchet, traction

machine

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Device that amplifies or replaces human or animal effort to accomplish a physical task. A machine may be further defined as a device consisting of two or more parts that transmit or modify force and motion in order to do work. The five simple machines are the lever, the wedge, the wheel and axle, the pulley, and the screw; all complex machines are combinations of these basic devices. The operation of a machine may involve the transformation of chemical, thermal, electrical, or nuclear energy into mechanical energy, or vice versa. All machines have an input, an output, and a transforming or modifying and transmitting device. Machines that receive their input energy from a natural source (such as air currents, moving water, coal, petroleum, or uranium) and transform it into mechanical energy are known as prime movers; examples include windmills, waterwheels, turbines, steam engines, and internal-combustion engines.