plural machines
1
a
: a mechanically, electrically, or electronically operated device for performing a task
an espresso machine
The store sold treadmills and other exercise machines.
… manufactures machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals …—
Rosie Fitzmaurice
Rosie Fitzmaurice
b
: conveyance, vehicle
especially
: automobile
Throughout the auto industry, the move is toward bigger engines and seductive ad campaigns pitched at motorists who yearn for the thrill of driving a mean machine. —David Pauly et al.
David Pauly et al.
c
: a coin-operated device
a snack machine
d(1)
: an assemblage (see assemblage sense 1) of parts that transmit forces, motion, and energy one to another in a predetermined manner
(2)
: an instrument (such as a lever) designed to transmit or modify the application of power, force, or motion
e
: any of various apparatuses formerly used to produce stage effects
f
: computer
especially
: personal computer
You might think that your files are safe on your Mac and Windows machine. But hard drives are not perfect. Data can become corrupted, and it's easy to delete the wrong files by mistake. —Andrew Uh
Andrew Uh A firm-owned laptop is configured with the security software and applications the user needs to perform their job. Relocating the laptop to the home network preserves the security of the computer, making it safer to use than the typical home machine. —Sharon D. Nelson and John W. Simek
Sharon D. Nelson and John W. Simek 2
a
: someone or something that resembles a machine (as in being methodical, tireless, or consistently productive)
… a gifted publicist and quote machine …—John Lancaster
John LancasterDan Reeves's Falcons weren't given much of a chance against the Vikings, the top scoring machine of all time.—Paul Zimmerman
Paul Zimmerman
b(1)
: a combination of persons acting together for a common end along with the agencies they use
The Homefront tells the fascinating story of how America transformed itself in the years 1941-45 from a society mired in depression into a war machine more powerful than any the world had yet known.—Stanley Marcus
Stanley MarcusFrom the first months of the war, each nation's propaganda machine encouraged its citizens to lionize their aces—those pilots having five or more victories.—Howard G. Fisher
Howard G. FisherIf the injustice is part of the necessary friction of the machine of government, let it go, let it go: perchance it will wear smooth …—Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
(2)
: a highly organized political group under the leadership of a boss (see boss entry 1 sense 2) or small group of individuals
a politician who challenged the local party machine
c
: a living organism or one of its functional systems
If fame means parading the inevitable ravages that time and excess wreak on the human machine, I'd just as soon do that in private.—Stanley Bing
Stanley Bing3
: a literary device or contrivance (such as a supernatural being or event) introduced for dramatic effect
4
a
archaic
: a constructed thing whether material or immaterial : structure
… those supporters and pillars, upon whom the frame and machine of the building was grounded …—John Stow and Anthony Munday
John Stow and Anthony Munday… with what beauty, art and contrivance, particular creatures are made, and how the several parts of this great machine are fitted to each other, and make a regular and uniform world …—William Sherlock
William Sherlock
b
archaic
: a military engine (such as a catapult)
machined; machining
: to process by or as if by machine
especially
: to reduce or finish by or as if by turning, shaping, planing, or milling by machine-operated tools
Synonyms
Examples of machine in a Sentence
Noun
Shovels are tools; bulldozers are machines.
Do you know how to operate this machine?
The machine is working properly.
He was bragging about his new machine.
The coach turned the team into a scoring machine.
My younger brother is an eating machine.
a politician who dared to challenge the local party machine
Their army is a well-oiled machine.
Verb
The parts of the engine have been precisely machined.
Recent Examples on the Web
Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
The decrease is attributed to a reduction in the number of mining machines in operation.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2024
Will they not only be moved by a fairy tale machined for a big, bad tech guy, the toughest of antiheroes to side with, but also believe that a nonhuman intelligence can capably capture and compel their imaginations?
—Randy Boyagoda, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for machine 
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Over the past five weeks, rookie Devaughn Vele’s also been a conversion machine.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
The decrease is attributed to a reduction in the number of mining machines in operation.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
The outsize date complication, meanwhile, has come to define Lange’s aesthetic, but its positioning on the dial is equally important: Located at 1 o’clock, its window is proportioned according to the golden mean of 1.618 and is machined from the same metal as the watch case.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2024
Will they not only be moved by a fairy tale machined for a big, bad tech guy, the toughest of antiheroes to side with, but also believe that a nonhuman intelligence can capably capture and compel their imaginations?
—Randy Boyagoda, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for machine
Articles Related to machine
Dictionary Entries Near machine
Cite this Entry
“Machine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machine. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
machine
1 of 2 noun
ma·chine
mə-ˈshēn 
1
a
: vehicle sense 2
especially
: automobile entry 2
b
: a combination of parts that transmit forces, motion, and energy to do some desired work
a sewing machine
c
: an instrument (as a lever or pulley) designed to transmit or change slightly the application of power, force, or motion
2
: an organized group that controls a political party
machinelike
adjective
-ˌlīk
machine
2 of 2 verb
machined; machining
: to shape or finish by machine-operated tools
machinable
adjective
mə-ˈshē-nə-bəl
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