machine

noun, often attributive

ma·chine | \ mə-ˈshēn

Definition of machine

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a mechanically, electrically, or electronically operated device for performing a task a machine for cleaning carpets

b : conveyance, vehicle especially : automobile

c : a coin-operated device a cigarette machine

d(1) : an assemblage (see assemblage sense 1) of parts that transmit forces, motion, and energy one to another in a predetermined manner

(2) : an instrument (such as a lever) designed to transmit or modify the application of power, force, or motion

e : machinery —used with the or in plural

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

2a : one that resembles a machine (as in being methodical, tireless, or consistently productive) a gifted publicist and quote machine— John Lancaster

b(1) : a combination of persons acting together for a common end along with the agencies they use building a powerful war machine

(2) : a highly organized political group under the leadership of a boss or small clique a politician who challenged the local party machine

c : a living organism or one of its functional systems

3 : a literary device or contrivance introduced for dramatic effect

4a archaic : a constructed thing whether material or immaterial

b archaic : a military engine

machine

verb

machined; machining

Definition of machine (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: 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

Other Words from machine Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about machine

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Other Words from machine

Verb

machinability or less commonly machineability \ mə-ˌshē-nə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

machinable or less commonly machineable \ mə-ˈshē-nə-bəl

\ adjective

Synonyms for machine

Synonyms: Noun

engine,
motor

Examples of machine in a Sentence

Noun Shovels are tools; bulldozers are machines. Do you know how to operate this machine? The machine is working properly. He was bragging about his new machine. The coach turned the team into a scoring machine. My younger brother is an eating machine. a politician who dared to challenge the local party machine Their army is a well-oiled machine. Verb The parts of the engine have been precisely machined.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The guts of the machine Just a few years ago, landing in and navigating a site like Jezero Crater might have been too treacherous for scientists to attempt. — Robert Hackett, Fortune, "NASA’s rover Perseverance touched down on Mars. What’s next?," 20 Feb. 2021 As a reward for helping wean the Black community off the Republican Party, Clements made campaign appearances alongside Mayor Richard J. Daley, boss of the fabled Democratic machine. — Ron Grossman, chicagotribune.com, "Flashback: Floy Clements dabbled in film and labored as a Chicago ward worker. She didn’t expect to go to Springfield as state’s first Black female lawmaker.," 19 Feb. 2021 However, Kirkconnell’s silence hasn't prevented the ostensible leader of the Bachelor Nation machine from jumping into high gear to defend her. — Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, "The Bachelor Has Another Racism Controversy. Don’t Let Chris Harrison Tell You It’s Normal," 11 Feb. 2021 If that's not enough to stop a tractor in its tracks, a set of hydraulic arms can lift the sled's wheels off the ground, dumping the entire weight of the machine onto the pan. — David Beard, Car and Driver, "Tested: 2020 Chevrolet, Ford, and Ram HD Pickup Pull-Off," 5 Feb. 2021 Even if someone gets a hold of the machine itself, there won’t be any information on it to steal. — Popular Science, "The most exciting new laptop tech coming in 2021," 20 Jan. 2021 And that is a story that takes us back to a time before Emanuel’s mayoral tenure, to his years as a core member of the Clinton machine during the ‘90s and as Obama’s chief of staff during the first two years of his term. — Jeffrey Blehar, Washington Examiner, "The broken power broker," 31 Dec. 2020 More than 13,000 Amazon reviewers are singing the praises of this machine, which is also the No. 1 best-seller for the category on the site. — Nicole Briese, USA TODAY, "Looking to get in shape for the new year? Get this home gym equipment on sale," 25 Dec. 2020 She wasn’t allowed to record any videos in the office, and found FaceTime all but useless in transmitting the imagery of an ultrasound machine. — Anchorage Daily News, "Conceived in a pandemic, born in a pandemic: The first quarantine babies are arriving," 25 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb The ferrule is fully machined, and the Anix Blade Locking System keeps the blades secure at all times. — Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, "The Best New Broadheads from the 2020 Archery Trade Show," 9 Jan. 2020 Check out those wheels, looking like they were machined from a solid chunk of attitudinum. — Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, "Tested: 2020 Genesis G90 Would Like Your Attention," 30 Mar. 2020 The gun is guaranteed sub-MOA with match ammunition, features in-house machined and matched upper and lower receivers. — John Haughey, Outdoor Life, "The Most Versatile Semi-Automatic Rifles," 10 Apr. 2019 The SRC-11—with upper and lower receivers machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum—chambered in the 6.5 Grendel is ideally suited to big-game hunting. — Richard Mann, Field & Stream, "The 30 Best AR-Style Rifles for Hunting and Personal Defense," 17 Sep. 2019 The Geneva concept has a carbon-fiber center console machined from a solid block made from 280 individual layers of composite material, something that requires 90 hours on a five-axis milling machine. — Mike Duff, Car and Driver, "Aston Martin Shows Off Q Version of DBX," 24 Feb. 2020 The plant will be able to machine parts parts, weld and join parts and perform additive manufacturing, Pacheco said. — Lee Roop | Lroop@al.com, al, "Blue Origin will ‘rapidly move’ ahead at new Huntsville engine plant," 18 Feb. 2020 The ferrule is machined from grade-5 titanium with a precision-ground tip. — Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, "The Best New Broadheads from the 2020 Archery Trade Show," 9 Jan. 2020 Also new, and totally cool, is Hoyt’s Integrate Mounting System, which is machined directly into the riser and allows compatible rests to be securely mounted perfectly flush and square. — The Editors, Field & Stream, "Best New Bows of the 2020 Archery Trade Show," 11 Jan. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'machine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.