Definition

Noun: A device or instrument designed to determine the weight or mass of an object. It is a tool for measurement that provides a quantitative readout.

Usage

The term "weighing machine" refers to the physical apparatus used for weighing. It is a standard, formal term for such devices. - You place an object on or in the weighing machine to find out how heavy it is. - The result is displayed on a scale, dial, or digital screen.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The postal clerk put the package on the weighing machine to calculate the postage.
  • Fruits and vegetables in the market are priced according to their weight on a weighing machine.
  • The laboratory's precision weighing machine can measure mass to the nearest milligram.

Advanced Usage

• "to be put on the weighing machine": To be subjected to measurement or evaluation, often metaphorically.
  • Every new policy is put on the weighing machine of public opinion.
• Industrial/Commercial Context: Often specifies the type, e.g., , .

Variants and Related Words

• Scale (n): A more common synonym for a weighing machine, especially in everyday contexts (e.g., bathroom scale).
• Balance (n): A type of weighing machine that compares masses, often used in scientific settings.
• Weighbridge (n): A large, heavy-duty weighing machine for vehicles and livestock.
• Weigher (n): A person or a machine that weighs.

Synonyms

• Scale
• Balance
• Weigher (as a device)

Related Phrases

• To weigh in: To be weighed officially, especially in sports like boxing or horse racing. (The phrasal verb "weigh in" originates from this context but is not directly a phrasal verb of the noun "weighing machine").
  • The jockey must weigh in before the race.

Notes on Meaning

The core meaning is a measuring instrument for mass. While often used interchangeably with "scale," "weighing machine" can sound slightly more formal or technical. It consistently refers to the functional device itself.

Noun

1. a measuring instrument for weighing; shows amount of mass