a piece of equipment with moving parts that uses power to do a particular job, often more quickly or easily than a person can
The washing machine suddenly stopped in the middle of the spin cycle.
At the arcade, Leo tried every claw machine but couldn’t win a prize.
✦ Borrowed from French “machine”, from Latin “machina” meaning ‘device, engine,’ originally from Ancient Greek “mēkhanē”.
a person or animal who works very hard and continuously, as if they never get tired
Clara is a machine—she finished the marathon and then went to the gym.
When it comes to coding, Marcus is a machine; he writes thousands of lines without a break.
a well-organized group that controls political decisions and uses power to stay in control, often in a city or party
The mayor owed his victory to the powerful city machine.
Reformers struggled to break the party machine that controlled local jobs.
to cut, shape, or finish something, especially metal or wood, using a machine such as a lathe or mill
The technician will machine the steel block to precise dimensions.
These gears were machined from aluminum for extra lightness.
Machines collectively, especially large or heavy equipment used in industry or agriculture.
The farm replaced its old machinery with modern tractors.
Heavy machinery is essential for building skyscrapers.
✦ From French machinerie (early 18th century), formed from machine + -ery, referring originally to the collective machine parts or engines.
