Machine: meaning, definitions and examples

Repeated definition. Please provide a different word.

Often used in scientific or technical contexts, referring to a set of materials or equipment designed for a particular operation.

• The laboratory apparatus needs to be cleaned regularly.
• A breathing apparatus is essential for firefighters.

Typically used for small to medium-sized objects that perform specific tasks, often electronic or mechanical in nature.

• Her phone is an indispensable device.
• Medical devices should be handled with care.

Commonly used in contexts that involve precision, particularly in science, medicine, or music.

• The surgeon asked for the instrument.
• He played a wind instrument in the orchestra.

Used to refer generally to a device made of mechanical components that performs a specific task. Common in everyday life and various industries.

• She used a sewing machine to make the dress
• The factory invested in new machines to increase production

Commonly used to describe a programmable machine capable of carrying out complex tasks. Often used in contexts involving technology, science fiction, or modern industries.

• The robot vacuum cleaner made keeping the house clean much easier
• In the future, robots might perform many jobs currently done by humans

Refers to a machine that operates automatically, often imagined as a lifelike being. Can have an old-fashioned or scientific tone.

• The ancient Greeks built an automaton that could move on its own
• His work resembled the precision of an automaton

A term used less frequently, it refers to a humanoid that operates mechanically. It can sometimes imply a lack of emotion or spontaneity in humans.

• He moved like a mechanical person, devoid of any real feeling
• The movie featured a villain who was a mechanical person created by a scientist

Use this when referring to a physical device made of mechanical parts. It often implies a tool or piece of equipment used for a specific task.

• The factory uses a machine to cut the metal plates.
• He bought a new washing machine for his house.

Appropriate when talking about converting a process to operate automatically, often through technology or software.

• The company decided to automate its customer service with chatbots.
• They automated the data entry tasks to save time.

Best used when discussing the introduction of machines to a process or activity, typically in industrial or agricultural contexts.

• The farm mechanized its harvesting process to increase efficiency.
• The army mechanized their operations to improve logistics.

Used to describe performing an action or series of actions with machinery, often in a repetitive or systematic manner.

• The assembly line processes the products mechanically to ensure consistency.
• They process the raw materials mechanically before packaging.