sewing-machine

A woman uses a sewing-machine to make a new dress.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A textile machine: "sewing-machine" refers to a machine used for stitching fabric or other materials together with thread. It is typically operated by hand, foot, or electricity and is a common tool in garment making, tailoring, and home crafts.

Usage Examples

• (A machine that stitches fabric together for clothing.)
• (A manual or vintage device for sewing.)
• (A machine designed for heavy-duty stitching on furniture fabric.)

Advanced Usage

• "to run a sewing-machine": to operate a sewing-machine, often for production or personal use.

  • She runs the sewing-machine for eight hours a day at the factory. (She operates the machine continuously for work.)

• "sewing-machine needle": the pointed metal part of the machine that carries the thread through the fabric.

  • Always replace a bent sewing-machine needle to avoid damaging the fabric. (The needle is a critical component.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sew (verb): to join or attach something using a needle and thread, or by using a sewing-machine.

  • I need to sew a button back onto my shirt. (To stitch manually or by machine.)

• Sewing (noun): the activity or skill of making or repairing clothes or fabric items.

  • She enjoys sewing as a hobby. (The craft of stitching.)

• Machine (noun): a device that uses power to perform a specific task, such as a sewing-machine.

  • The sewing-machine is a type of machine. (A general mechanical device.)

Synonyms

• Stitcher: a machine or person that stitches fabric (less common; often used in industrial contexts).

  • The industrial stitcher can handle thick leather. (A machine similar to a sewing-machine but for heavy materials.)

• Sewing device: a general term for any tool used for stitching, including a sewing-machine.

  • The sewing-machine is the most common sewing device in homes. (A broader category.)

Related Idioms

• "to sew up": to complete or finalize something successfully, often in a business or legal context (not directly related to the machine itself, but derived from the verb "sew").

  • The lawyers sewed up the contract last night. (They finalized it completely.)

• "to be in stitches": to laugh uncontrollably (a pun on sewing machine stitches, but unrelated to the machine).

  • His joke had us in stitches. (We were laughing very hard.)