Cambridge Dictionaries online Cambridge Dictionaries online

The most popular online dictionary and thesaurus for learners of English

  

machine

 
 
/məˈʃiːn/ noun [C]

Definition

EQUIPMENT a piece of equipment with moving parts that uses power to do a particular job: a fax machine a coffee machine Clothes are generally sewn by machine these days.
GROUP a group of people all working together to achieve the same result: a political/war machine
COMPUTER a computer → See also answerphone → See also cash machine → See also sewing machine → See also slot machine → See also vending machine → See also washing machine
(Definition of machine noun from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Word of the Day

hold water

If a reason, argument or explanation holds water, it is true

Word of the Day

Blog

Read our blog about how the English language behaves.

Learn More

New Words

Find words and meanings that have just started to be used in English, and let us know what you think of them.

Learn More