machine
n
1 an assembly of interconnected components arranged to transmit or modify force in order to perform useful work
2 (Also called)
simple machine a device for altering the magnitude or direction of a force, esp. a lever, screw, wedge, or pulley
3 a mechanically operated device or means of transport, such as a car, aircraft, etc.
4 any mechanical or electrical device that automatically performs tasks or assists in performing tasks
a modifier denoting a firearm that is fully automatic as distinguished from semiautomatic
b (in combination)
machine pistol, machine gun
6 any intricate structure or agency
the war machine
7 a mechanically efficient, rigid, or obedient person
8 an organized body of people that controls activities, policies, etc.
9 (esp. in the classical theatre) a device such as a pulley to provide spectacular entrances and exits for supernatural characters
10 an event, etc., introduced into a literary work for special effect
vb
11 tr to shape, cut, or remove (excess material) from (a workpiece) using a machine tool
12 to use a machine to carry out a process on (something) (C16: via French from Latin machina machine, engine, from Doric Greek makhana pulley; related to makhos device, contrivance) ♦
machinable, machineable adj ♦
machinability n ♦
machineless adj ♦
machine-like adj
adding machine
n a mechanical device, operated manually or electrically, for adding and often subtracting, multiplying, and dividing
answering machine
n a device by means of which a telephone call is answered automatically and the caller enabled to leave a recorded message, (In full)
telephone answering machine (Also called)
answerphone
automated teller machine
n a computerized cash dispenser, (Abbrev.)
ATM
bathing machine
n a small hut, on wheels so that it could be pulled to the sea, used in the 18th and 19th centuries for bathers to change their clothes
clobbering machine
n (N.Z.)
informal pressure to conform with accepted standards
drum machine
n a synthesizer specially programmed to reproduce the sound of drums and other percussion instruments in variable rhythms and combinations selected by the musician; the resulting beat is produced continually until stopped or changed
facsimile machine
n a machine which transmits and receives documents in facsimile transmission, (Often shortened to)
fax, fax machine
fruit machine
n (Brit) a gambling machine that pays out when certain combinations of diagrams, usually of fruit, appear on a dial
heart-lung machine
n a machine used to maintain the circulation and oxygenation of the blood during heart surgery
ice machine
n a machine that automatically produces ice for use in drinks, etc.
infernal machine
n
Archaic a usually disguised explosive device or booby trap
kidney machine
n another name for →
artificial kidney
See →
haemodialysis
machine bolt
n a fastening bolt with a machine-cut thread
machine code , language
n instructions for the processing of data in a binary, octal, or hexadecimal code that can be understood and executed by a computer
machine gun
n
a a rapid-firing automatic gun, usually mounted, from which small-arms ammunition is discharged
b (as modifier)
machine-gun fire
vb
♦
machine-gun , -guns, -gunning, -gunned
2 tr to shoot or fire at with a machine gun
♦
machine gunner n
machine head
n a metal peg-and-gear mechanism for tuning a string on an instrument such as a guitar
machine intelligence
n (Brit)
now rare another term for →
artificial intelligence
machine learning
n a branch of artificial intelligence in which a computer generates rules underlying or based on raw data that has been fed into it
machine moulding
n (Engineering) the process of making moulds and cores for castings by mechanical means, usually by compacting the moulding sand by vibration instead of by ramming down
machine readable
adj (of data) in a form in which it can be fed into a computer
machine screw
n a fastening screw with a machine-cut thread throughout the length of its shank
machine shop
n a workshop in which machine tools are operated
machine tool
n a power-driven machine, such as a lathe, miller, or grinder, that is used for cutting, shaping, and finishing metals or other materials
♦
machine-tooled adj
machine translation
n the production of text in one natural language from that in another by means of computer procedures
milking machine
n an apparatus for milking cows
milling machine
n a machine tool in which a horizontal arbor or vertical spindle rotates a cutting tool above a horizontal table
poker machine
n (Austral. and N.Z) a fruit machine, (Often shortened to)
pokie
radial drilling machine
n a machine in which the drilling head is mounted to slide along a radial arm which can be rotated, raised, or lowered on a vertical mast to adjust the position of the drill above the workpiece, (Often shortened to)
radial
rowing machine
n a device with oars and a sliding seat resembling a sculling boat, used to provide exercise
sewing machine
n any machine designed to sew material. It is now usually driven by electric motor but is sometimes operated by a foot treadle or by hand
simple machine
n a simple device for altering the magnitude or direction of a force. The six basic types are the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, screw, wedge, and inclined plane
slot machine
n a machine, esp. one for selling small articles or for gambling, activated by placing a coin or metal disc in a slot
sub-machine-gun
n a portable automatic or semiautomatic light gun with a short barrel, firing pistol ammunition: designed to be fired from the hip or shoulder
synchronous machine
n an electrical machine, whose rotating speed is proportional to the frequency of the alternating-current supply and independent of the load
tape machine
n
1 another word for →
tape recorder
2 a telegraphic receiving device that records messages electronically or on ticker tape, (U.S. equivalent)
ticker
teaching machine
n a machine that presents information and questions to the user, registers the answers, and indicates whether these are correct or acceptable
telephone answering machine
n the full name for →
answering machine
Thompson sub-machine-gun
n Trademark a .45 calibre sub-machine-gun, (Also called)
Tommy gun
(C20: after John T. Thompson (1860--1940), US Army Officer, its coinventor)
threshing machine
n a machine for threshing crops
time machine
n (in science fiction) a machine in which people or objects can be transported into the past or the future
Turing machine
n a hypothetical universal computing machine able to modify its original instructions by reading, erasing, or writing a new symbol on a moving tape of fixed length that acts as its program. The concept was instrumental in the early development of computer systems
vending machine
n a machine that automatically dispenses consumer goods such as cigarettes, food, or petrol, when money is inserted, (Also called)
automat
voting machine
n (esp. in the U.S.) a machine at a polling station that voters operate to register their votes and that mechanically or electronically counts all votes cast
washing machine
n a mechanical apparatus, usually powered by electricity, for washing clothing, linens, etc.
Wimshurst machine
n a type of electrostatic generator with two parallel insulating discs revolving in different directions, each being in contact with a thin metal wiper that produces a charge on the disc: usually used for demonstration purposes
(C19: named after J. Wimshurst (1832--1903), English engineer)
wind machine
n a machine used, esp. in the theatre, to produce wind or the sound of wind