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 WebDanny Emerman, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
So when questions about regulating artificial intelligence emerged, the 73-year-old Beyer took what for him seemed like an obvious step, enrolling at George Mason University to get a master’s degree in machine learning.
—David Klepper, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
After a groggy 18 months following the defeat of its initial invasion and the spectacular Ukrainian attacks that drove the Russians back from Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson, the Russian military machine is adapting.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
While less common, some companies building AI tools and machine learning models don't automatically opt-in customers.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Like Mulrooney, Stinnett fears the bill is the beginning of the end of electronic pull tab machines for charitable fundraising.
—The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
The best photos from the men's March Madness Final Four
1 of 60
Dominance
The UConn winning machine was developed in the 1990s under legendary head coach Jim Calhoun, who brought the program’s first men’s national championship to Storrs in 1999.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
This is one of the most broadly applicable responsible AI practices that should be mandated for any company using machine learning.
—Quora, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The Eric McAllister and Bridget McAllister are muscular machines.
—Joshua Goodman and Richard Lardner, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Power runs through an aluminum drive unit—machined with computer precision—wrapped in snowmobile-style rubber treads reinforced with Kevlar.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Feb. 2024
Her father, Robert Brace, retired from Ford as a technician who machined engine parts in the dynamometer lab to support engine testing.
—Detroit Free Press, 11 Jan. 2024
Like all Leupold rifle scopes, it’s designed, machined, and assembled in the USA, and is guaranteed to perform for life.
—T. Logan Metesh, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
Made from sturdy 100 percent cotton and thick canvas material, this bag is not only durable but also easy to machine wash and fold for on-the-go convenience.
—Dhara Patel, Peoplemag, 11 Nov. 2023
Then there’s the turntable’s Keel sub-chassis, which is custom machined from solid aluminum and set into a base available in two colorways: natural wood or white.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 14 July 2023
Moffett’s are mostly sculptures but vary from cleanly machined to roughly collaged.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023
The blend of materials creates a lightweight feel that’s easy to machine wash on laundry day.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2023
Noun
The winning machine in Palo Alto will keep humming.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2024
So when questions about regulating artificial intelligence emerged, the 73-year-old Beyer took what for him seemed like an obvious step, enrolling at George Mason University to get a master’s degree in machine learning.
—David Klepper, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2024
After a groggy 18 months following the defeat of its initial invasion and the spectacular Ukrainian attacks that drove the Russians back from Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson, the Russian military machine is adapting.
—Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
While less common, some companies building AI tools and machine learning models don't automatically opt-in customers.
—Matt Burgess, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Like Mulrooney, Stinnett fears the bill is the beginning of the end of electronic pull tab machines for charitable fundraising.
—The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
The best photos from the men's March Madness Final Four
1 of 60
Dominance
The UConn winning machine was developed in the 1990s under legendary head coach Jim Calhoun, who brought the program’s first men’s national championship to Storrs in 1999.
—Ben Morse, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024
This is one of the most broadly applicable responsible AI practices that should be mandated for any company using machine learning.
—Quora, Forbes, 30 Mar. 2024
The Eric McAllister and Bridget McAllister are muscular machines.
—Joshua Goodman and Richard Lardner, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Its leaders outsourced work, sold off whole divisions and discarded key capabilities such as developing avionics, machining parts and building fuselages.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2024
Power runs through an aluminum drive unit—machined with computer precision—wrapped in snowmobile-style rubber treads reinforced with Kevlar.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Feb. 2024
Her father, Robert Brace, retired from Ford as a technician who machined engine parts in the dynamometer lab to support engine testing.
—Detroit Free Press, 11 Jan. 2024
Like all Leupold rifle scopes, it’s designed, machined, and assembled in the USA, and is guaranteed to perform for life.
—T. Logan Metesh, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
Made from sturdy 100 percent cotton and thick canvas material, this bag is not only durable but also easy to machine wash and fold for on-the-go convenience.
—Dhara Patel, Peoplemag, 11 Nov. 2023
Then there’s the turntable’s Keel sub-chassis, which is custom machined from solid aluminum and set into a base available in two colorways: natural wood or white.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 14 July 2023
Moffett’s are mostly sculptures but vary from cleanly machined to roughly collaged.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023
The blend of materials creates a lightweight feel that’s easy to machine wash on laundry day.
—Madison Yauger, Peoplemag, 20 Sep. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'machine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Machine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machine. Accessed 18 Apr. 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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