machine
machine
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "machine" is /məˈʃiːn/.
/mə/
/ˈʃiːn/
Word Form Variations
Noun: machine (singular), machines (plural)
Verb: machine (base form), machines (third person singular present), machining (present participle), machined (past simple, past participle)
Adjective: machine (often used attributively, e.g., "machine gun," "machine washable") - no comparative/superlative forms.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: An apparatus using mechanical power and having several parts, each with a definite function, that work together to perform a particular task.
Synonyms: apparatus, device, mechanism, engine, implement, appliance, robot (if automated)
Antonyms: manual tool, hand tool, human (as opposed to automated)
Definition 2: A person who acts or performs in a mechanical, impersonal, or efficient way, often without emotion or individual thought.
Synonyms: automaton, robot, drone, puppet, cog (in a machine)
Antonyms: individual, human, creative, free spirit
Definition 3: (Informal) A controlling system, especially a political organization, regarded as efficient and impersonal.
Synonyms: organization, system, apparatus, establishment, bureaucracy
Antonyms: chaos, anarchy, disorganization, grassroots movement
Definition 4: (Archaic or poetic) A vehicle, especially a bicycle or automobile.
Synonyms: vehicle, conveyance, bike, car (in specific contexts)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific archaic use)
Verb
Definition 1: To make, shape, or operate with a machine, especially by means of cutting tools.
Synonyms: mill, process, manufacture, fabricate, tool, cut (with machine)
Antonyms: hand-craft, sculpt (by hand), mold (by hand)
Definition 2 (informal): To move or operate like a machine, with great efficiency or speed.
Synonyms: operate smoothly, function efficiently, perform flawlessly, hum
Antonyms: falter, malfunction, break down, struggle
Examples of Use
Books:
"The time machine hummed to life, its gears whirring as it prepared for its impossible journey." (Fictional example from a science fiction novel, e.g., The Time Machine by H.G. Wells)
"The political machine of the 19th century effectively controlled city elections through patronage and influence." (From a non-fiction book on political history)
"To achieve such precision, the components were carefully machined from a solid block of titanium." (From an engineering textbook or technical manual)
Newspapers:
"A new report highlights the growing impact of artificial intelligence and learning machines on the global workforce." ("Business Daily Africa,")
"Police recovered a stolen ATM machine after a dramatic chase through the city suburbs." ("The Standard,")
"The veteran party chairman was praised for his ability to run a tight political machine, ensuring electoral victories." ("Daily Nation,")
Online Publications:
"The best espresso machines for home baristas: A comprehensive review guide." (An article on a consumer electronics blog, e.g., "Wirecutter,’’)
"How do search engines work? A deep dive into the complex algorithms that power the internet's largest machine." (A tech explainer on "HowStuffWorks.com,")
"Understanding the basics of wood machining for your DIY projects." (A guide on a woodworking website, e.g., "Fine Woodworking Online,")
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "I'll be back." (Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Terminator, a killing machine, in The Terminator, 1984)
Television Series: "Our forensic experts used a specialized machine to reconstruct the fragmented audio recording." (Dialogue from a crime procedural, e.g., CSI)
Song Lyrics: "We are the robots, we are the machine." (Kraftwerk, "The Robots," 1978)
Video Games: "Your objective is to destroy the enemy's war machine before it reaches the city gates." (In-game mission objective in a strategy or action game, e.g., Halo)
Podcasts: "In this episode, we explore the intricate workings of the human body, a truly remarkable biological machine." (A podcast on science or biology, e.g., "Radiolab")
General Public Discourse:
"My washing machine just broke down; I need to call a technician." (A common complaint about household appliances)
"He's a work machine; he never stops!" (Praising someone's tireless work ethic)
"The coffee machine in the office is always busy in the mornings." (A casual observation)
"Be careful around that factory machine; it's very powerful." (A warning in an industrial setting)
"We need to oil the wheels of this bureaucratic machine to get things done faster." (Metaphorical use, referring to a slow system)
10 Famous Quotes Using Machine
“Man is a complex being: he makes deserts bloom – and lakes die.” – Gil Stern (on man's relationship with machine and nature)
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” – Arthur C. Clarke (implying the machine as the ultimate form of technology)
“The machine does not isolate man from the great problems of nature but plunges him more deeply into them.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“A computer is like a violin. You can imagine a novice trying first a phonograph and then a violin. The latter, he says, sounds terrible. That is the attitude we often have toward a computer.” – Marvin Minsky (on the machine as a tool)
“Man is a tool-using animal. Without tools he is nothing, with tools he is all.” – Thomas Carlyle (refers to machine in the broader sense of mechanized tools)
“You can’t expect to wield supreme executive power just because some watery tart threw a sword at you!” – Monty Python and the Holy Grail (mocking blind faith in systems or machines)
“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein (when asked if he considered himself a machine of genius)
“The real problem is not whether machines think but whether men do.” – B.F. Skinner
“Television is the menace that everyone loves to hate but can’t seem to live without.” – Paddy Chayefsky (the TV as a social machine)
“Machines are worshipped because they are beautiful and valued because they confer power; they are hated because they are hideous and loathed because they impose slavery.” – Bertrand Russell
Etymology
The word "machine" has a rich history that goes back to ancient Greek!
It entered English through the Middle French word machine, which meant "device" or "contrivance."
This French word, in turn, came from the Latin word machina. In Latin, machina could refer to "an engine," "a military machine," a "device," a "trick," or an "instrument."
Even further back, the Latin word comes from the Ancient Greek word mēkhanē (μηχανή), or its Doric variant makhana (μαχανά). This Greek word originally meant "contrivance," "device," "tool," or "ingenious means," and was also related to "cunning" or "expedient." It stemmed from an even older Greek word mēkhos, meaning "means" or "remedy."
So, when "machine" first appeared in English, around the mid-16th century (around 1545), its initial meanings were quite broad, similar to the Latin: "a structure of any kind" or "a device/contrivance." It wasn't immediately limited to complex mechanical devices.
The more specific modern sense of "a device made of moving parts for applying mechanical power" became common later, around the late 17th century. This likely evolved from its use in contexts like military siege engines or theatrical devices that lowered "gods" onto a stage (hence "deus ex machina" – "god from the machine").
Phrases + Idioms Containing Machine
Washing machine: An appliance used for washing clothes.
Vending machine: A machine that dispenses products when money is inserted.
Sewing machine: A machine used for sewing or stitching.
Coffee machine: An appliance for brewing coffee.
Slot machine: A gambling machine operated by inserting coins or tokens.
Political machine: A tightly organized group of politicians and party loyalists who control local or state government.
War machine: A country's military power and equipment.
Money machine: Something that generates a lot of money; a very profitable entity.
Time machine: A hypothetical device used to travel through time.
To be a well-oiled machine: To operate very smoothly and efficiently.
Deus ex machina: (Latin, "god from the machine") An unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel.
A printing machine: (Synonym for press) A device for printing text or images.
The gears of the system: (Metaphorical) The working parts of a complex organization. (Synonym for the inner workings of a "machine")
A finely tuned instrument: (Metaphorical) Something that operates with great precision and effectiveness. (Synonym for a highly efficient "machine")
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of machine from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
