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

see all synonyms and antonyms

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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