1 ma·chine
Pronounced:
/məˈʃi:n/
Function:
nounInflected forms:
plural ma·chinesMeaning:
[count] 1 : a piece of equipment with moving parts that does work when it is given power from electricity, gasoline, etc. ▪ Shovels are tools; bulldozers are machines. ▪ Do you know how to operate/use/run this machine? ▪ The machine is working/running properly. ▪ The machine is broken. ▪ machine-sorted mail [=mail that is sorted by using a machine] ▪ a fax/copy/exercise machine ▪ a coffee/soda/ice/cash machine [=a machine from which you can get coffee/soda/ice/cash] —often used to refer informally to a specific type of machine ▪ Are there any new messages on the machine? [=on the answering machine] ▪ I have a load of laundry in the machine. [=in the washing machine] ▪ I'm having software problems on my machine. [=computer] —see also answering machine, flying machine, rowing machine, sewing machine, slot machine, time machine, vending machine, voting machine, washing machine
2 informal : a vehicle (such as a car or motorcycle) ▪ He was bragging about his new machine.
3 a : a person or group that does something efficiently, quickly, or repeatedly like a machine ▪ The coach turned the team into a scoring machine. ▪ My younger brother is an eating machine. ▪ a publicity machine b : a powerful and well-organized group ▪ a politician who dared to challenge the local party machine ▪ a powerful war machine ▪ Their army is a well-oiled machine.
2 informal : a vehicle (such as a car or motorcycle) ▪ He was bragging about his new machine.
3 a : a person or group that does something efficiently, quickly, or repeatedly like a machine ▪ The coach turned the team into a scoring machine. ▪ My younger brother is an eating machine. ▪ a publicity machine b : a powerful and well-organized group ▪ a politician who dared to challenge the local party machine ▪ a powerful war machine ▪ Their army is a well-oiled machine.
by machine
: with a machine ▪ The mail used to be sorted by hand but is sorted now by machine.
—ma·chine·like /məˈʃi:nˌlaɪk/ adjective [more ma*chine*like; most ma*chine*like] ▪ He worked with machinelike efficiency.
/məˈʃi:nˌlaɪk/ adjective [more ma*chine*like; most ma*chine*like] ▪ He worked with machinelike efficiency.