Definition

1. Noun:

   • A mechanical or electrical device: A device that uses power to perform a specific task, often by transmitting or modifying energy.
   • An efficient system or organization: A complex, highly organized group or structure that works effectively to achieve goals.
   • A person who acts automatically: A person who performs tasks in a mechanical, unthinking way.

2. Verb:

   • To make or shape with a machine: To manufacture, finish, or process something using machinery.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The washing machine broke down. (A mechanical device for cleaning clothes.)
  • The party's political machine mobilized voters for the election. (An organized group controlling activities.)
  • After years on the assembly line, he felt like a machine. (A person acting mechanically.)

• Verb:

  • The factory machines the parts to precise specifications. (To shape using machinery.)

Advanced Usage

• "to be a machine": To perform a task with relentless efficiency and without emotion.

  • In the final minutes, the basketball player was a scoring machine.

• "cog in the machine": A person who is a small, seemingly unimportant part of a large organization or system.

  • He felt like just another cog in the corporate machine.

Variants and Related Words

• Machinery (n): Machines collectively or the components of a machine.

  • The factory invested in new machinery.

• Mechanize (v): To equip with or operate using machinery.

  • The army sought to mechanize its infantry units.

Synonyms

• Noun: Device, apparatus, engine, contraption, organization, system.
• Verb: Manufacture, fabricate, mill, tool.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Phrases

• Machine-wash (v): (A compound verb) To wash in a washing machine.

  • The label says you can machine-wash this sweater.

• Machine-readable (adj): (A compound adjective) In a form that a computer can process.

  • The data must be in a machine-readable format.

Related Idioms

• A well-oiled machine: A group or system that functions very smoothly and efficiently.

  • The event staff worked together like a well-oiled machine.

• Throw a wrench / spanner in the machine: To cause a problem that disrupts a process.

  • The sudden budget cut threw a wrench in the machine.

Verb

1. make by machinery
   • The Americans were machining while others still hand-made cars
2. turn, shape, mold, or otherwise finish by machinery

Noun

1. a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
   • he needs a car to get to work
2. a group that controls the activities of a political party
   • he was endorsed by the Democratic machine
3. a device for overcoming resistance at one point by applying force at some other point
4. an intricate organization that accomplishes its goals efficiently
   • the war machine
5. an efficient person
   • the boxer was a magnificent fighting machine
6. any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks