machine

machine — noun

1. a physical device made of connected parts that uses electricity, gas, or another

1.nounA2
Definition

a physical device made of connected parts that uses electricity, gas, or another power source to perform a specific job

Example

Amani pressed the button on the coffee machine and waited for her drink.

countable noun: coffee machine for a specific purpose

The factory manager ordered a new packing machine after the old one kept breaking down.

factory setting; machine for industrial use

Common collocations
  • operate a machine
  • run a machine
  • fix a machine
  • coffee machine
  • washing machine
  • vending machine
  • by machine
Synonyms
  • device

    more general; any tool or piece of equipment, not necessarily with moving parts

  • appliance

    used for household machines such as fridges, ovens, and cleaners

  • apparatus

    more technical; used for scientific or specialized equipment

  • machinery

    collective noun for a group of machines, not a single unit

Grammar Patterns

a/the machine

machine + noun (machine parts)

Usage Note

Followed by a noun modifier to specify the purpose: coffee machine, washing machine, vending machine, etc.

Common Mistakes

The machine of the car is broken.
The engine of the car is broken.
'machine' refers to a complete device, not a single internal part like an engine.

2. a computer or laptop, especially when referred to informally

2.nounB1
Definition

a computer or laptop, especially when referred to informally

Example

Apinya spends all evening on her machine, playing games and messaging her friends.

informal: 'on my machine' = on my computer

The new machine in the office boots up in less than ten seconds.

Common collocations
  • on my machine
  • boot up a machine
  • shut down a machine
  • install software on a machine
Synonyms
  • computer

    the standard term; neutral register

  • PC

    specifically a personal computer running Windows

  • laptop

    portable computer, distinct from a desktop tower

Grammar Patterns

a/the machine

on a/the machine

Usage Note

Common in workplace and IT contexts. Often used with possessive: 'my machine', 'your machine'. Avoid in formal writing where 'computer' is preferred.

Common Mistakes

I brought my machine to the repair shop.' (unclear)
I brought my computer to the repair shop.
Outside IT/office settings, 'machine' as 'computer' may cause confusion.

3. a vehicle, especially a motorcycle or car, referred to in an informal or admirin

3.nounB2
Definition

a vehicle, especially a motorcycle or car, referred to in an informal or admiring way

Example

Roya jumped on her machine and rode off towards the coast road.

slang: 'my machine' = my motorcycle

The mechanic told Kenji that his machine needed a full engine replacement.

Common collocations
  • ride a machine
  • park a machine
  • nice machine
Synonyms
  • bike

    shorter, very common slang for motorcycle

  • ride

    casual term for any vehicle, especially a motorcycle

Grammar Patterns

a/the machine

on a machine (motorcycle)

Usage Note

Primarily used by motorcycle and car enthusiasts. 'Nice machine!' is an admiring comment about someone's vehicle. This sense feels dated in British English but remains current in American and Australian usage.

Common Mistakes

I drove my machine to work.' (vague)
I rode my motorcycle to work.
In everyday speech, this sense sounds affected unless the context clearly signals an enthusiast register.

4. the group of people and systems that control and organize a political party, gov

4.nounB2
Definition

the group of people and systems that control and organize a political party, government, or other large organization

Example

The party machine raised millions of dollars for the presidential campaign.

collocation: party machine

Despite public anger, the government machine continued to process policy changes without any pause.

collocation: government machine

Common collocations
  • party machine
  • political machine
  • government machine
  • war machine
  • propaganda machine
Synonyms
  • apparatus

    more formal; 'the state apparatus' — similar meaning, neutral to slightly negative

  • system

    broader and less political; 'the legal system' does not imply control by a small group

  • organization

    neutral term without the machine metaphor's mechanical, impersonal feel

Grammar Patterns

the + noun + machine

Usage Note

Often used with a modifier: 'party machine', 'political machine', 'government machine', 'war machine'. Frequently carries a negative connotation, suggesting the organization operates without regard for individual people.

Common Mistakes

The office machine decided to fire him.' (unclear)
The company's management machine decided to let him go.
The modifier (party, political, government, etc.) is essential for clarity.

5. a person who works or performs in a highly efficient, tireless way, often withou

5.nounB2
Definition

a person who works or performs in a highly efficient, tireless way, often without showing emotion

Example

In the courtroom, Judge Okafor was a machine, moving through cases with cold precision.

metaphor: 'was a machine' = worked tirelessly and efficiently

Élise became a scoring machine during the basketball tournament, hitting shot after shot.

collocation: scoring machine

Common collocations
  • be a machine
  • work like a machine
  • scoring machine
  • goal machine
  • voting machine
Synonyms
  • workaholic

    focuses on long hours rather than efficiency; may imply addiction to work

  • automaton

    stronger negative sense of acting without thought or feeling

  • robot

    similar metaphor; often suggests mechanical, repetitive actions

Grammar Patterns

be a machine

work like a machine

Usage Note

Used as a compliment about efficiency, but can carry a hint of dehumanization — it implies the person lacks emotion or spontaneity. 'A scoring machine' or 'a goal machine' in sports is purely positive slang.

Common Mistakes

She is a machine, but she is not very smart.' (contradicts the meaning)
She is a machine when it comes to data entry.
The metaphor emphasises speed and accuracy, not intelligence.
Idioms

a cog in the machine

idiom

a person whose role within a large organization is small and unimportant, making them feel their contribution does not matter

After ten years in the same department, Sumin felt like a cog in the machine and started looking for a new job.

The interns were treated like cogs in the machine, given boring tasks and no real responsibility.

a cog in the machine/wheel

idiom

A person who has a small, unimportant role in a large organization.

Maya felt like just a cog in the machine at her corporate job.

Diego didn't want to be a cog in the wheel; he wanted to lead.

machine — verb

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words refer to physical tools or equipment, but they differ in scope and context. 'Device' is the broadest term — it covers any piece of equipment designed for a specific purpose, from a simple thermometer to a complex smartphone, and implies nothing about size or power source. 'Appliance' is limited to household machines such as refrigerators, ovens, and vacuum cleaners — you would not call an industrial drill an 'appliance'. 'Apparatus' is more technical and formal, typically used for scientific, medical, or laboratory equipment (a chemistry apparatus, a breathing apparatus). 'Machinery' is a collective noun for several machines working together (farm machinery, factory machinery) and cannot refer to a single unit. Example: 'The coffee machine (not appliance/apparatus/machinery) in the break room needs repair.'

device ↗appliance ↗apparatus ↗machinery ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • machine operator
  • machine parts
  • machine shop
  • machine tool
  • machine learning

Adverbs

Phrases

  • operate a machine
  • run a machine
  • work a machine
  • fix a machine
  • machine breaks down
  • state-of-the-art machine
  • heavy machinery

Prepositions

  • by machine
  • on a machine
  • with a machine

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

'Machine' entered English through French in the 1500s, originally meaning a military siege engine or a structure. It comes from Latin 'machina' (a mechanical device, a contrivance), which itself was borrowed from Greek 'mēkhanē' (a device, a means, a clever invention). The Greek root relates to 'mēkhos' meaning 'contrivance' or 'remedy'. The modern sense of 'a device with moving parts that performs work' developed during the Industrial Revolution, while the metaphorical uses (a political machine, a human machine) emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries.