Meaning of machine In English

• 0 a piece of equipment with several moving parts that uses power to do a particular type of work:

  • The different sizes of eggs are sorted by a machine.

  • If I'm not home when you call, leave a message on the machine (= answering machine).

  • Don't forget to put the towels in the machine (= washing machine) before you go out.

  • I got some chocolate from a vending machine.

• 1 a computer:

  • You'll need a powerful machine for editing videos.

• 2 a vehicle, often a motorcycle:

  • approving That's a mean (= powerful) machine you've got there, Bill.

• 3 a group of people who control and organize something:

  • Churchill's war machine

  • The party machine has swung into action with its preparation for the election.

  • It's now up to the government's propaganda machine to restore the leader's image.

• 4 to sew cloth with a sewing machine:

  • I've almost finished making the curtains - I just have to machine the hem.

  • Tungsten carbide tools are used extensively for machining steel.

• 5 a device with moving parts that uses power to do work of a particular type:

  • a sewing/washing machine

  • an answering machine

  • He was a product of an old-line party machine.

• 6 a piece of equipment with moving parts that uses power to do a particular type of work:

  • The machines were designed to make bottles from recycled plastic.

  • operate/use a machine Now only a few people are required to operate the computerized machines.

  • install/service a machine Soft drink companies began installing vending machines in schools.

  • Is the machine working again?

  • a machine breaks down The machine broke down and we had to call someone to come and mend it.

  • a washing/sewing/copying machine Slowly feed the paper into the copying machine.

  • a machine for (doing) sth He invented a machine for setting type.

  • They use a special machine to scan the bone.

  • by machine The votes are counted by machine.

  • a machine operator/maker

• 7 a computer:

  • You'll need a powerful machine for editing videos.

  • Most machines running these programs have poor network connections.

• 8 a group of people who control and organize something:

  • political/publicity machine The publicity machine will not quit when the book tour grinds to a halt.

  • The hard left wanted ministers to be accountable to the party machine.

  • His business empire has grown into a well-oiled machine.

• 9 to make or change the shape of something using a machine:

  • Each hole has to be accurately machined.

  • The sides are carefully machined to fit the cylinders.