machine
Other forms: machines; machined; machining
At its simplest, a machine is an invention that does a job better and faster and more powerfully than a human being.
Despite being man-made we’ve come to think of the word machine as the very opposite of human. The Machine Age we live in is considered impersonal and overwhelming, and anything machine-like is often considered soulless or even dangerous. (Witness the countless fantasies of robots taking over the world.) Human beings working together, like "the cogs of a machine," can become more powerful than a single person. That's why sports teams or political organizations are often described as "well-oiled machines."
Definitions of machine
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any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human taskstypes:assemblya group of machine parts that fit together to form a self-contained unitbaggera machine for putting objects or substances into bagscalendera machine that smooths or glazes paper or cloth by pressing it between plates or passing it through rollersATM, automated teller, automated teller machine, automatic teller, automatic teller machine, cash dispenser, cash machinean unattended machine (outside some banks) that dispenses money when a personal coded card is usedcombera machine that separates and straightens the fibers of cotton or woolcomputer, computing device, computing machine, data processor, electronic computer, information processing systema machine for performing calculations automaticallycement mixer, concrete mixera machine with a large revolving drum in which cement is mixed with other materials to make concretecorkera machine that is used to put corks in bottlesdecodera machine that converts a coded text into ordinary languagefarm machinea machine used in farmingfranking machinea machine that automatically stamps letters or packages passing through it and computes the total chargemachinerymachines or machine systems collectivelymachine toola powered machine for cutting or shaping or finishing metals or other materialsmilking machinemachine consisting of a suction apparatus for milking cows mechanicallymotormachine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motionperpetual motion machinea machine that can continue to do work indefinitely without drawing energy from some external source; impossible under the law of conservation of energypile drivera machine that drives piling into the groundpower toola tool driven by a motormechanical press, pressany machine that exerts pressure to form or shape or cut materials or extract liquids or compress solidsphonograph, record playermachine in which rotating records cause a stylus to vibrate and the vibrations are amplified acoustically or electronicallysimulatora machine that simulates an environment for the purpose of training or researchslicera machine for cutting; usually with a revolving bladesnow blower, snow throwera machine that removes snow by scooping it up and throwing it forcefully through a chutesortera machine for sorting things (such as punched cards or letters) into classesstapler, stapling machinea machine that inserts staples into sheets of paper in order to fasten them togethertextile machinea machine for making textilestime machinea science fiction machine that is supposed to transport people or objects into the past or the futuretrimmera machine that trims timberworkhorsemachine that performs dependably under heavy useZambonithe trademark for a machine that smooths the ice in an ice-skating rinkabacusa calculator that performs arithmetic functions by manually sliding counters on rods or in groovesaddera machine that adds numbersAddressograph, addressing machinea printer that automatically prints addresses on letters for mailinganalog computer, analogue computera computer that represents information by variable quantities (e.g., positions or voltages)backhoean excavator whose shovel bucket is attached to a hinged boom and is drawn backward to move earthburrrotary file for smoothing rough edges left on a workpiececharacter printer, character-at-a-time printer, serial printera printer that prints a single character at a timecheese pressa press for shaping cheese curdciderpressa press that is used to extract the juice from applescultivator, tillera farm implement used to break up the surface of the soil (for aeration and weed control and conservation of moisture)digital computera computer that represents information by numerical (binary) digitsdredgea power shovel to remove material from a channel or riverbeddrill pressa machine tool with a separate, upright stand; an electric drill is pressed into the work automatically or with a hand leverdrum sander, electric sander, sander, smoothera power tool used for sanding wood; an endless loop of sandpaper is moved at high speed by an electric motorelectric motora motor that converts electricity to mechanical workelectrostatic printera printer that uses an electric charge to deposit toner on paperenginemotor that converts thermal energy to mechanical workenginerymachinery consisting of engines collectivelycylinder press, flatbed pressa printing press where the type is carried on a flat bed under a cylinder that holds paper and rolls over the typeflight simulator, trainersimulator consisting of a machine on the ground that simulates the conditions of flying a planegarlic pressa press for extracting juice from garlicacoustic gramophone, gramophonean antique record player; the sound of the vibrating needle is amplified acousticallygrindera machine tool that polishes metalhand calculator, pocket calculatora calculator small enough to hold in the hand or carry in a pockethome computera computer intended for use in the homehydraulic presspress in which a force applied by a piston to a small area is transmitted through water to another piston having a large areaimpact printera printer that prints by mechanical impactsjukebox, nickelodeona cabinet containing an automatic record player; records are played by inserting a coinknitting machinea textile machine that makes knitted fabricsline printer, line-at-a-time printerprinter that serves as an output device on a computer; prints a whole line of characters at a timelooma textile machine for weaving yarn into a textilemailsortera sorter for sorting mail according to the addressNapier's bones, Napier's rodsa set of graduated rods formerly used to do multiplication and division by a method invented by John Napiernumber crunchera computer capable of performing a large number of mathematical operations per secondpari-mutuel machine, totalisator, totaliser, totalizator, totalizercomputer that registers bets and divides the total amount bet among those who wonpower drilla power tool for drilling holes into hard materialspredictora computer for controlling antiaircraft fire that computes the position of an aircraft at the instant of a shell's arrivalprinter(computer science) an output device that prints the results of data processingpunch pressa power driven press used to shape metal partsquipucalculator consisting of a cord with attached cords; used by ancient Peruvians for calculating and keeping recordsrotary pressa printing press for printing from a revolving cylinderroutera power tool with a shaped cutter; used in carpentry for cutting grooveshost, server(computer science) a computer that provides client stations with access to files and printers as shared resources to a computer networksewing machinea textile machine used as a home appliance for sewingspinning machinea textile machine for spinning yarn and threadstanding pressa large printing press that exerts pressure verticallysteam shovela power shovel that is driven by steamstepper, stepping motora motor (especially an electric motor) that moves or rotates in small discrete stepssub-assemblya unit assembled separately but designed to fit with other units in a manufactured productsubtractera machine that subtracts numbersthermal printera printer that produces characters by applying heat to special paper that is sensitive to heatthrasher, thresher, threshing machinea farm machine for separating seeds or grain from the husks and strawTuring machinea hypothetical computer with an infinitely long memory tapetypesetting machinea printer that sets textual material in typevending machinea slot machine for selling goodsweldmentan assembly of parts welded togetherwillowa textile machine having a system of revolving spikes for opening and cleaning raw textile fiberswinepressa press that is used to extract the juice from grapesinternet site, site, web site, websitea computer connected to the internet that maintains a series of web pages on the World Wide Webtype of:devicean instrumentality invented for a particular purpose
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a device for overcoming resistance at one point by applying force at some other pointsynonyms: simple machinetypes:inclined planea simple machine for elevating objects; consists of plane surface that makes an acute angle with the horizontallevera simple machine that gives a mechanical advantage when given a fulcrumblock, pulley, pulley block, pulley-blocka simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the ropewheela simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)balance, balance wheela wheel that regulates the rate of movement in a machine; especially a wheel oscillating against the hairspring of a timepiece to regulate its beatbicycle wheelthe wheel of a bicyclebuffing wheela wheel that is covered with soft materialcartwheela wheel that has wooden spokes and a metal rimcar wheela wheel that has a tire and rim and hubcap; used to propel the cardaisy print wheel, daisy wheela wheel around which is a set of print characters that make a typing impression on paperdriving wheela wheel that drives a motor vehicle (transforms torque into a tractive force)fairleada pulley-block used to guide a rope forming part of a ship's rigging to avoid chafingcogwheel, gear, gear wheel, geared wheela toothed wheel that engages another toothed mechanism in order to change the speed or direction of transmitted motionhandwheela wheel worked by handidle pulley, idle wheel, idler pulleya pulley on a shaft that presses against a guide belt to guide or tighten itnosewheela wheel located under the nose of an airplane that is part of the plane's landing gearpaddle wheel, paddlewheela large wheel fitted with paddles and driven by an engine in order to propel a boatpinwheela wheel that has numerous pins that are set at right angles to its rimpotter's wheela horizontal rotating wheel holding the clay being shaped by a potterratchet wheeltoothed wheel held in place by a pawl or detent and turned by a leverrollera small wheel without spokes (as on a roller skate)rowela small spiked wheel at the end of a spurscrewa simple machine of the inclined-plane type consisting of a spirally threaded cylindrical rod that engages with a similarly threaded holetrundlesmall wheel or rollerwagon wheela wheel of a wagonwater wheel, waterwheela wheel with buckets attached to its rim; raises water from a stream or pondwedgesomething solid that is usable as an inclined plane (shaped like a V) that can be pushed between two things to separate themtype of:mechanical devicemechanism consisting of a device that works on mechanical principles
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an efficient person“the boxer was a magnificent fighting machine”types:bionic man, bionic woman, cyborga human being whose body has been taken over in whole or in part by electromechanical devices
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an intricate organization that accomplishes its goals efficiently
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a group that controls the activities of a political party
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a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion enginesynonyms: auto, automobile, car, motorcartypes:ambulancea vehicle that takes people to and from hospitalsbeach waggon, beach wagon, estate car, station waggon, station wagon, waggon, wagona car that has a long body and rear door with space behind rear seatcab, hack, taxi, taxicaba car driven by a person whose job is to take passengers where they want to go in exchange for moneyconvertiblea car that has a top that can be folded or removedcoupea car with two doors and front seats and a luggage compartmentcruiser, patrol car, police car, police cruiser, prowl car, squad cara car in which policemen cruise the streets; equipped with radiotelephonic communications to headquartersgas guzzlera car with relatively low fuel efficiencyhardtopa car that resembles a convertible but has a fixed rigid tophatchbacka car having a hatchback doorhorseless carriagean early term for an automobileloanera car that is lent as a replacement for one that is under repairminicara car that is even smaller than a subcompact carminivana small box-shaped passenger van; usually has removable seats; used as a family carModel Tthe first widely available automobile powered by a gasoline engine; mass-produced by Henry Ford from 1908 to 1927pace cara high-performance car that leads a parade of competing cars through the pace lap and then pulls off the courseS.U.V., SUV, sport utility, sport utility vehiclea high-performance four-wheel drive car built on a truck chassisStanley Steamera steam-powered automobilestock cara car kept in dealers' stock for regular salesberlina limousine with a glass partition between the front and back seatsbroughama sedan that has no roof over the driver's seatfinishera race car that finishes a racefunny wagonan ambulance used to transport patients to a mental hospitalgypsy caba taxicab that cruises for customers although it is licensed only to respond to callsminicaba minicar used as a taxicabpanda cara police cruisershooting brakeanother name for a station wagonstock cara racing car with the basic chassis of a commercially available cartype of:
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turn, shape, mold, or otherwise finish by machinery
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make by machinery
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