| Noun | 1. | machine - any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks |
| 2. | machine - an intricate organization that accomplishes its goals efficiently; "the war machine" | |
| 3. | machine - an efficient person; "the boxer was a magnificent fighting machine" | |
| 4. | machine - 4-wheeled motor vehicle; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine; "he needs a car to get to work" | |
| 5. | machine - a group that controls the activities of a political party; "he was endorsed by the Democratic machine" Synonyms: political machine | |
| 6. | machine - a device for overcoming resistance at one point by applying force at some other point Synonyms: simple machine | |
| Verb | 1. | machine - turn, shape, mold, or otherwise finish by machinery |
| 2. | machine - make by machinery; "The Americans were machining while others still hand-made cars" |
MACHINE. A contrivance which serves to apply or regulate moving power; or it
is a tool more or less complicated, which is used to render useful natural
instruments, Clef. des Lois Rom. h.t.
2. The act of congress gives to inventors the right to obtain a patent
right for any new and useful improvement on any art, machine, manufacture,
&c. Act of congress, July 4, 1836, s. 6. See Pet. C. C. 394; 3 Wash. C. C.
443; 1 Wash. C. C. 108; 1 Wash. C. C. 168; 1 Mason, 447; Paine, 300; 4 Wash.
C. C. 538; 1 How. U. S., 202; S. C. 17 Pet. 228; 2 McLean, 176.
| machine - Common term for "computer", usually when considered at the
hardware level. The Turing Machine, an early example of
this usage, was however neither hardware nor software, but
only an idea. |
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