machine

The word “machine” means a device with moving parts that uses energy to perform a task. In plain terms, a device that does mechanical work — or, by extension, a computer, a vehicle, or a highly efficient organization.

“Machine” is pronounced muh-SHEEN (/məˈʃin/ in IPA).

Here is “machine” used in a sentence: “The factory installed a new machine to package the products faster.”

Words with a similar meaning to “machine” include engine.

Depending on how it is used, “machine” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “machine” comes from Latin. From Middle French machine, from Latin māchina ("device, contrivance"), from Greek māchanā, related to "mechanical.".

“Machine” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Machine” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a device with moving parts that uses energy to perform a task.

A tool is usually a simple object you operate by hand, like a hammer or screwdriver, with few or no moving parts. A machine is more complex: it has moving parts and draws on a power source — electricity, fuel, or muscle — to do work. Put simply, machines often power or automate what tools do by hand.

The six classic simple machines are the lever, the wheel and axle, the pulley, the inclined plane, the wedge, and the screw. Each changes the direction or amount of a force to make work easier. Complex machines, from bicycles to engines, are really combinations of these basic building blocks.

Everyday examples include a car engine, a washing machine, a drill, and a printer — all devices with moving parts powered by energy to perform a task. Even a simple bicycle counts, since it uses gears, wheels, and levers. Machines range from tiny mechanisms to enormous industrial equipment.