machine n
1. any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
2. an intricate organization that accomplishes its goals efficiently; "the war machine"
3. an efficient person; "the boxer was a magnificent fighting machine"
4. 4-wheeled motor vehicle; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine; "he needs a car to get to work" [syn: car, auto, automobile, motorcar]
5. a group that controls the activities of a political party; "he was endorsed by the Democratic machine" [syn: political machine}]
6. a device for overcoming resistance at one point by applying force at some other point [syn: simple machine] v
7. turn, shape, mold, or otherwise finish by machinery
8. make by machinery; "The Americans were machining while others still hand-made cars"

Machine \Ma*chine"\, n. [F., fr. L. machina machine, engine, device, trick, Gr. ?, from ? means, expedient. Cf. Mechanic.]
1. In general, any combination of bodies so connected that their relative motions are constrained, and by means of which force and motion may be transmitted and modified, as a screw and its nut, or a lever arranged to turn about a fulcrum or a pulley about its pivot, etc.; especially, a construction, more or less complex, consisting of a combination of moving parts, or simple mechanical elements, as wheels, levers, cams, etc., with their supports and connecting framework, calculated to constitute a prime mover, or to receive force and motion from a prime mover or from another machine, and transmit, modify, and apply them to the production of some desired mechanical effect or work, as weaving by a loom, or the excitation of electricity by an electrical machine. Note: The term machine is most commonly applied to such pieces of mechanism as are used in the industrial arts, for mechanically shaping, dressing, and combining materials for various purposes, as in the manufacture of cloth, etc. Where the effect is chemical, or other than mechanical, the contrivance is usually denominated an apparatus, not a machine; as, a bleaching apparatus. Many large, powerful, or specially important pieces of mechanism are called engines; as, a steam engine, fire engine, graduating engine, etc. Although there is no well-settled distinction between the terms engine and 220 catflap.bishopston.net dictd 1.11.2/rf on FreeBSD 8.1-STABLE <231129.7850.1289340328@catflap.bishopston.net>

See more meaning on Machine...

A machine is a device that uses energy to perform some activity. In common usage, the meaning is that of a device having parts that perform or assist in performing any type of work. A simple machine is a device that transforms the direction or magnitude of a force without consuming any energy. The word "machine" is derived from the Latin word machina,

Historically, a device required moving parts to be classified as a machine; however, the advent of electronics technology has led to the development of devices without moving parts that many refer to as machines—the computer being the most obvious example.

"Engines" are machines that convert heat or other forms of energy into mechanical energy. For example, in an internal combustion engine the expansion of gases caused by the heat from an exothermic chemical reaction results in a force being applied to a movable component, such as a piston or turbine blade. An engine is often considered part of a larger machine, such as an automobile or an aircraft.

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