Antonyms for machine


Grammar : Noun
Spell : muh-sheen
Phonetic Transcription : məˈʃin


Definition of machine

Origin :
  • 1540s, "structure of any kind," from Middle French machine "device, contrivance," from Latin machina "machine, engine, military machine; device, trick; instrument" (cf. Spanish maquina, Italian macchina), from Greek makhana, Doric variant of mekhane "device, means," related to mekhos "means, expedient, contrivance," from PIE *maghana- "that which enables," from root *magh- (1) "to be able, have power" (cf. Old Church Slavonic mogo "be able," Old English mæg "I can;" see may (v.)).
  • Main modern sense of "device made of moving parts for applying mechanical power" (1670s) probably grew out of mid-17c. senses of "apparatus, appliance" and "military siege-tower." In late 19c. slang the word was used for both "penis" and "vagina," one of the few so honored. Political sense is U.S. slang, first recorded 1876. Machine age is attested by 1851:
  • The idea of remodelling society at public meetings is one of the least reasonable which ever entered the mind of an agitator: and the notion that the relations of the sexes can be re-arranged and finally disposed of by preamble and resolution, is one of the latest, as it should have been the last, vagary of a machine age. ["The Literary World," Nov. 1, 1851]
  • Machine for living (in) "house" translates Le Corbusier's machine à habiter (1923).
  • noun device that performs a task
  • noun well-run political organization
  • noun person who acts automatically
Example sentences :
  • At the risk of overturning the machine he veered it sharply to the left.
  • Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
  • Once more the sun flashed on her hair; then the machine disappeared.
  • Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
  • The man had no fear, he had no nerves; he was a machine, and death was his business.
  • Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
  • But, once again in the machine, he bent over and put his cheek against hers.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • And the more some of them have had to drink, the more they want to drive the machine.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • Her sensitive nostrils dilated, her brain worked like a machine.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • He saw a girl in white in the car and followed in his own machine.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • Seeing the crowd, Wilson drove directly to the yard and parked his machine.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • My opinion of this machine is so pronounced that I do not care to state it fully.
  • Extract from : « Scientific American Supplement, No. 447, July 26, 1884 » by Various
  • The machine is now set in motion, and the bulk of the solvent is drawn off.
  • Extract from : « Scientific American Supplement, No. 447, July 26, 1884 » by Various

Synonyms for machine

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019