machine
/məˈʃiːn/
(often in compounds)
a piece of equipment with many parts that work together to do a particular task. The power used to work a machine may be electricity, steam, gas, etc. or human power.
Machines have replaced human labour in many industries.
to operate/run a machine
How does this machine work?
a washing/sewing machine
a machine for making plastic toys
They have installed a new coffee machine in the staff room.
to invent/design a machine
In the factory he oversees 14 teams of machine operators.
by machine
The potatoes are planted by machine.
Collocations
adjective
verb + machine
machine + verb
machine + noun
preposition
by machine
in a/the machine
on a/the machine…
phrases
a make of machine
2 a computer
The new machines will be shipped next month.
We build machines that process data.
All machines are connected online to reach specialists in Germany.
3 (informal) a particular machine, for example in the home, when you do not refer to it by its full name
Just put those clothes in the machine (= the washing machine).
Is the machine working again?
4 an organized system for achieving something and the people who control it
the president’s propaganda machine
He played the Republican political machine to get himself into power.
These years saw a massive growth in the US military machine.
Hollywood’s slick public relations machine has produced a new improved model of a young movie star.
Collocations
adjective
machine + noun
phrases
a cog in the machine
a well-oiled machine
5 (often disapproving) a person who acts without thinking and without allowing their feelings to show or to affect their work
In this movie he plays a lean, mean killing machine.
He was the perfect fighting machine with a total disregard for his own personal safety.
This guy is as good as it gets ﹘﹘he's a machine on assignment!
Word Origin
mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a structure): from French, via Latin from Doric Greek makhana (Greek mēkhanē, from mēkhos ‘contrivance’).