by machine

idiom

: with a machine
The mail used to be sorted by hand but is sorted now by machine.

Examples of by machine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This cleaning method helps prevent potential damage that could be caused by machine washing, preserving the shape and materials of the hat. Fill a large container or bucket with water. Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024 The puzzles are then cut and disassembled by machine, and bagged and boxed by hand. David Frese, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024 In a recount, officials could rescan the QR codes by machine or hand count the text. Amy Gardner, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2024 The scheme sometimes requires disassembly of Lego sets, and sorting of bricks both by machine and by hand. WIRED, 30 Sep. 2023 One proposal suggested a tax on every yard of cloth made by machine. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2023 Kinney and Kempes developed their assessment method by using that list of compounds, along with methods inspired by machine learning algorithms designed to recognize the odd-image-out in a set. Elise Cutts, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Sep. 2023 While leathers can now be cut by machine or laser as well as by hand, most of the construction is done by someone in a coverall brandishing a tool. Paul Croughton, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2023 Crochet can’t be made by machine; it’s all made by hand. The Editors, ELLE, 24 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'by machine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“By machine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/by%20machine. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

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