machine
[noun]
Synonyms:
- appliance, apparatus, contraption, contrivance, device, engine, instrument, mechanism, tool
- system, machinery, organization, setup (informal), structure

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English Thesaurus: machine, appliance, device, gadget, contraption, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. ma‧chine¹ S1 W1 /məˈʃiːn/ noun [countable]
[Word Family: noun: machine, machinery, machinist, mechanic, mechanics, mechanism, mechanization; adjective: mechanical, mechanized, mechanistic; verb: machine, mechanize; adverb: mechanically, mechanistically]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin machina, from Greek mechane, from mechos 'way of doing things']

1. a piece of equipment with moving parts that uses power such as electricity to do a particular job
washing/sewing etc machine
Is the washing machine working now?
Could you get me a coffee from the drinks machine?
The fax machine is broken.
switch/turn a machine on/off
Turn the machine off before removing the cover.
by machine
The letters are sorted by machine.
Did you put my dirty shirts in the machine (=washing machine)?
I left a message for you on your machine (=telephone answering machine).
The machine wouldn’t let me have any money (=cash machine). ⇒ answering machine, cash machine, vending machine

2. a computer:
My machine’s just crashed.

3. a group of people who control and organize something – often used to show disapproval:
the bureaucrats of the party machine
the government’s propaganda machine
the powerful American war machine

4. informal a vehicle, especially a motorbike:
Riders have to learn to handle their machines in all conditions.
That’s a mean machine (=very fast and attractive vehicle) you have there.

5. a person or animal that does something very well or without having to think about it:
In the tiger, nature has produced the perfect hunting machine.
I’m not a golfing machine. I make mistakes just like anyone else.

6. someone who seems to behave like a machine and to have no feelings or thoughts Synonym : automaton

7. a well-oiled machine something that works very smoothly and effectively:
The office runs like a well-oiled machine.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. machine² verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: machine, machinery, machinist, mechanic, mechanics, mechanism, mechanization; adjective: mechanical, mechanized, mechanistic; verb: machine, mechanize; adverb: mechanically, mechanistically]

1. to fasten pieces of cloth together using a sewing machine

2. to make or shape something using a machine

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

machine
noun
I. piece of equipment
ADJ. great, huge, large, powerful | automatic, electronic | labour-saving | ingenious, versatile | sophisticated | reliable | defective | cash, coffee, exercise, fax, sewing, (telephone) answering, vending, video, washing | kidney, life-support The crash victim is now on a life-support machine.
VERB + MACHINE operate, use, work | install We've had a new washing machine installed.
start, stop | plug in, unplug | build, make | service | design The machine is designed to fit under a counter.
MACHINE + VERB go, work Have you got the machine working again?
break down | run The machine runs on solar power.
MACHINE + NOUN operator | parts | tool machine tools for making weapons
PREP. by The potatoes are planted by machine.
in a/the ~ Just put those clothes in the machine (= the washing machine).
on a/the ~ I make my own dresses on my sewing machine.
~ for a machine for making coffee
PHRASES a make of machine What make of machine are they using?

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

machine
II. system/organization
ADJ. party, political The independent candidates did not have the support of a party machine.
administrative, government, state | propaganda, publicity | military, war the president's propaganda machine
PHRASES a cog in the machine (figurative) Tired of being a tiny cog in a vast machine, he handed in his resignation.
a well-oiled machine (figurative) The department ran like a well-oiled machine since the reorganization.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

machine

switch on/turn on a machine
Turn the machine on and slowly add the hot liquid.
switch off/turn off a machine
Is the tape machine switched off?
operate/work a machine
Have you been taught to operate the machine properly?
use a machine
Can you use the copy machine?
a machine operates/works
The machine works using solar power.
install a machine (=put it somewhere and connect it so it can be used)
300 new machines have been installed across the country.
upgrade a machine (=add new and better parts to it or replace it with a better one)
How much will it cost to upgrade the machine?
a washing machine (=for washing clothes)
Put your dirty clothes straight in the washing machine.
a sewing machine
Can I borrow your sewing machine to make some curtains?
an answering machine (=for recording telephone messages)
There’s a message on the answering machine.
a coffee machine (=for providing cups of coffee)
She was at the coffee machine last time I saw her.
a vending machine (=for supplying drinks, chocolate bars etc)
You can buy hot drinks from the vending machine in the corridor.
a cash/ATM machine (=for giving you money from your bank account)
I need to stop at a cash machine.
a slot machine (=for putting coins in in order to try and win more money)
The casino has 500 slot machines.
a life-support machine (=for keeping a very sick person alive)
He has been on a life-support machine since the accident.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

machine
noun
BAD: Over eighty per cent of these cars are old, and so are their machines.
GOOD: Over eighty per cent of these cars are old, and so are their engines.

Usage Note:
machine = a piece of equipment which performs useful work, such as a sewing machine, washing machine, or computer: 'To operate this machine, simply select the type of coffee you require and press the green button.' 'The latest machines can run both types of software.'
engine = a device which provides the power for a motor vehicle, train, aircraft etc: 'It was difficult to make yourself heard above the roar of the engines.' 'Check the tyre pressures and top up the engine oil.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

machine a piece of equipment with moving parts that uses power such as electricity to do a particular job:
a washing machine
an X-ray machine
Staff are trained to operate the machine.
appliance formal a machine or piece of electrical equipment, usually a large one, that people use in the home:
The store sells kitchen appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and toasters.
We carry out repairs on a range of household appliances.
device a piece of equipment, usually a small electronic one, that does a special job:
electronic listening devices
50,000 people downloaded the music to computers or portable devices such as iPods.
The device is fitted to the car and can detect stationary objects ahead.
gadget a small, useful, and cleverly-designed tool or machine:
high-tech gadgets
He buys all the latest gadgets.
contraption a machine or piece of equipment that looks strange or complicated:
There was a bizarre contraption for polishing the floor.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲