machine
machine — noun
1. a physical device made of connected parts that uses electricity, gas, or another
a physical device made of connected parts that uses electricity, gas, or another power source to perform a specific job
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
Every Sunday morning Rafael runs the washing machine before heading to the market.
When the vending machine swallowed Tamar's coins, she reported it to the building staff.
The printing machine in the library can produce fifty pages in under a minute.
文法句型
a/the machine
machine + noun (machine parts)
用法筆記
Followed by a noun modifier to specify the purpose: coffee machine, washing machine, vending machine, etc.
常見錯誤
2. a computer or laptop, especially when referred to informally
a computer or laptop, especially when referred to informally
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.
Sumin downloaded the design software onto her machine and started working right away.
Make sure you turn off your machine before you leave the office for the night.
文法句型
a/the machine
on a/the machine
用法筆記
Common in workplace and IT contexts. Often used with possessive: 'my machine', 'your machine'. Avoid in formal writing where 'computer' is preferred.
常見錯誤
3. a vehicle, especially a motorcycle or car, referred to in an informal or admirin
a vehicle, especially a motorcycle or car, referred to in an informal or admiring way
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.
Maeve parked her machine under the shade of a large oak tree.
A group of riders took their machines out on the winding mountain road at dawn.
文法句型
a/the machine
on a machine (motorcycle)
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
4. the group of people and systems that control and organize a political party, gov
the group of people and systems that control and organize a political party, government, or other large organization
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
Tanvi worked her way up through the political machine over the course of two decades.
The university's administrative machine processes more than ten thousand applications each year.
Local volunteers felt powerless against the city's tightly controlled political machine.
- 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
文法句型
the + noun + machine
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
5. a person who works or performs in a highly efficient, tireless way, often withou
a person who works or performs in a highly efficient, tireless way, often without showing emotion
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
The old tailor worked like a machine, stitching each seam perfectly without a single pause.
Christopher called his brother a machine after he finished the marathon in under three hours.
- 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
文法句型
be a machine
work like a machine
用法筆記
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.
常見錯誤
machine — verb
1. to stitch pieces of cloth together using a sewing machine, typically for hems, s
to stitch pieces of cloth together using a sewing machine, typically for hems, seams, or edges
Amani machined the hem of her dress in under ten minutes and tried it on.
transitive: machine + object (the hem)
The tailor machined the buttonholes with careful precision before attaching the buttons.
Apinya learned to machine curtains during her first sewing class at the community centre.
The costume designer machined the sleeves and then attached them to the jacket by hand.
文法句型
machine + object (cloth, hem, seam)
machine + object + adverb (machine something shut/closed)
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'sew' — 'machine' specifies the use of a sewing machine, while 'sew' can be done by hand or by machine. In patterns and dressmaking contexts, 'machine' is a practical shorthand.
常見錯誤
2. to cut, shape, or finish a piece of metal using a lathe, drill, milling machine,
to cut, shape, or finish a piece of metal using a lathe, drill, milling machine, or other industrial tool
Kenji machined the steel rod down to the exact width required for the axle.
transitive: machine + object + adverb (down to)
The engineer machined a replacement gear for the broken pump in the factory.
Each part is machined to a precision of one-tenth of a millimetre before assembly.
Rafael machined the aluminium bracket for the prototype of the new engine.
文法句型
machine + object (metal, steel, aluminium)
用法筆記
A technical term in manufacturing and engineering. The past participle 'machined' is very common: 'machined parts', 'machined surface'. This sense cannot be used for cutting wood, plastic, or other materials outside of a workshop context.