First Known Use: circa 1545
Dictionary
1machine
noun, ma·chine often attributive \mə-ˈshēn\
: a piece of equipment with moving parts that does work when it is given power from electricity, gasoline, etc.
: a vehicle (such as a car or motorcycle)
: a person or group that does something efficiently, quickly, or repeatedly like a machine
Full 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
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Origin of MACHINE
Middle French, from Latin machina, from Greek mēchanē (Doric dialect machana), from mēchos means, expedient — more at may
Other Mechanical Engineering Terms
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
verb
: to shape (something) by using a machine
ma·chinedma·chin·ing
Full Definition of MACHINE
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
— 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
See machine defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of MACHINE
1853
Other Mechanical Engineering Terms
MACHINE Defined for Kids
machine
noun ma·chine \mə-ˈshēn\
Definition of MACHINE for Kids
1
: a device with moving parts that does some desired work when it is provided with power <a sewing machine>
2
: vehicle 1 <a flying machine>
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