machine
/mə'ʃi:n/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- make by machinery
- The Americans were machining while others still hand-made cars
- turn, shape, mold, or otherwise finish by machinery
Noun
- a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
- he needs a car to get to work
- a group that controls the activities of a political party
- he was endorsed by the Democratic machine
- a device for overcoming resistance at one point by applying force at some other point
- an intricate organization that accomplishes its goals efficiently
- the war machine
- an efficient person
- the boxer was a magnificent fighting machine
- any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks