n. 1 mechanism, device, apparatus, contrivance, appliance, instrument, implement, tool, utensil, gadget, Colloq contraption, US gismo or gizmo What kind of machine is used to make a corkscrew? 2 engine, motor, prime mover, vehicle; car, automobile, motor car, US auto We used to get into the machine and go for Sunday picnics 3 organization, system, ring, gang, cabal, clique, party, faction The entire council is run by a political machine
v. 4 shape, make, manufacture In this department we machine the castings to a tolerance of one ten-thousandth of an inch