/ məˈʃiːn; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
1.
(often in compounds) a piece of equipment with moving parts that is designed to do a particular job. 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
I left a message on her answering machine.
The potatoes are planted by machine .
—see also voting machine
2.
( 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) .
The new machines (= computers) will be shipped next month.
3.
a group of people that control an organization or part of an organization :
the president's propaganda machine
4.
(often disapproving ) a person who acts automatically, without allowing their feelings to show or to affect their work
—see also mechanical , fruit machine , slot machine , time machine
HELP NOTE : You will find other compounds ending in machine at their place in the alphabet.
•
IDIOMS
see cog
■ verb
( technical ) to make or shape sth with a machine :
[ vn ]
This material can be cut and machined easily.
[also v ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (originally denoting a structure): from French , via Latin from Doric Greek makhana ( Greek mēkhanē , from mēkhos contrivance).