machine
gb/məʃˈin/ us/məʃˈin/
A2
English
~ 800
gép, gépezet, apparátus, géppel megmunkál, forgácsol
NOUN
A2
1
gép
A1
Usage pattern:
a [type of] machine
The factory installed a new machine to speed up production.
A gyár új gépet állított üzembe, hogy felgyorsítsa a termelést.
She put the clothes in the washing machine.
Betette a ruhákat a mosógépbe.
This coffee machine makes excellent espresso.
The mechanic fixed the broken sewing machine.
They imagined traveling to the past in a time machine.
Learner examples
I use a washing machine to clean my clothes.
Mosógépet használok a ruháim mosásához.
The coffee machine is in the kitchen.
A kávégép a konyhában van.
We bought a new sewing machine.
This machine helps us make bread.
The vending machine sells snacks.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'machine' with 'engine'; an engine is the power source, while a machine is the whole device that does work.
Meaning
Powered device for a task
Collocations
washing machine
|coffee machine
|vending machine
|sewing machine
|time machine
Synonyms
device (A more general term for any piece of equipment, not necessarily powered.)
|
apparatus (A more formal or technical term for a complex device.)
Antonyms
manual tool (A tool operated entirely by hand without powered parts.)
Themes
technology
|industry
|daily life
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A tool with moving parts that uses power to do a job.
A piece of equipment with moving parts, often powered by electricity or an engine, that performs a particular kind of work.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
a political/business/military machine
The political machine controlled the city for decades.
A politikai gépezet évtizedeken át uralta a várost.
The military machine was mobilized quickly.
A hadigépezetet gyorsan mozgósították.
He felt like just another cog in the corporate machine.
Learner examples
The political machine wins many elections.
A politikai gépezet sok választást megnyer.
The military machine is very strong.
A hadigépezet nagyon erős.
She works for the corporate machine.
Common mistake:
Learners may take this meaning literally as a physical device rather than an organization.
Meaning
Efficiently operating organization
Collocations
political machine
|military machine
|corporate machine
Synonyms
organization (A general term for a structured group, without the mechanical efficiency implication.)
|
apparatus (Often used in political contexts for established systems of power.)
Antonyms
disorganized group (A group lacking structure or efficiency.)
Themes
politics
|business
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A group or system that works like a machine to get things done.
An organized group or system that works efficiently and often mechanically to achieve goals, especially in politics or business.
VERB
C1
TECHNICAL
3
forgácsol
C1
Usage pattern:
to machine [material] into [shape]
The workshop machines parts for the automotive industry.
A műhely autóipari alkatrészeket munkál meg géppel.
They machined the block of aluminum into a precise component.
Az alumíniumtömböt precíz alkatrésszé munkálták meg géppel.
This company machines custom gears for bicycles.
Learner examples
We machine parts for cars.
Autóalkatrészeket munkálunk meg géppel.
He machined the metal into a wheel.
Gépi megmunkálással kereket készített a fémből.
They machine small parts here.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'machine' (verb) with 'operate a machine'; here it means to process material, not just use equipment.
Meaning
Shape using powered tool
Collocations
machine parts
|machine metal
|machine components
Synonyms
fabricate (A broader term for making something, not always by powered tools.)
|
mill (A specific machining process involving rotating cutting tools.)
Antonyms
handcraft (To make or shape something entirely by hand without powered tools.)
Themes
manufacturing
|engineering
|work
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make or change something by cutting or shaping it with a powered tool.
To cut, shape, or finish a material using a powered tool or machine.
Grammar
Dictionary form
machine
IPA
GB/məʃˈin/
US/məʃˈin/
Syllables & stress
ma - chine (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (chine)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: machine
- Plural: machines
Verb
- Base: machine
- 3rd Person Singular: machines
- Present Participle: machining
- Past: machined
Word family
Forms
machines
noun
machining
verb
machined
verb
Core family
Related words
mechanically
adverb B2
mechanism
noun B1
Advanced or less common
Expressions
machine learning
1/məʃˈin lˈɚnɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
Computer training from data
When computers learn from information to do tasks better without being told exactly how to do them.
Examples
- Machine learning is used in many modern apps.
- She is studying machine learning at university.
political machine
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl məʃˈin/
fixed phrase
Powerful political organization
A strong group that controls politics in an area.
Examples
- The political machine has run this city for years.
- He challenged the local political machine.
war machine
1/wˈɔɹ məʃˈin/
fixed phrase
Military power and equipment
All the soldiers and weapons a country has for war.
Examples
- The country's war machine was mobilized quickly.
- They feared the growing war machine of their neighbor.
well-oiled machine
1/wˈɛl ˈɔɪld məʃˈin/
idiom
Smoothly running system or group
A group or process that works very well and without problems.
Examples
- The event was organized like a well-oiled machine.
- The event ran like a well-oiled machine thanks to good planning.
- Our team works together like a well-oiled machine.
- Our team is now a well-oiled machine after months of practice.