Machine refers to a device that uses mechanical power or an electrical/electronic system to perform work. It can also denote a structure designed to produce specific outputs, often with complex parts that operate together. In everyday language, it spans from simple tools to advanced automation, and in metaphor, something that operates rigidly or without feeling. The term carries technical precision across contexts.
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"The factory installed a new machine to increase production.”"
"She treated the old washing machine as a repair project."
"The crypto mining rig resembles a small computing machine."
"In his presentation, he described the machine as a metaphor for routine processes of society."
The word machine comes from Old French machine, from Latin machin(a) and Greek mekhane (μηχανή) meaning a device, structure, or contrivance. The Greek term μηχανή (mēkhanḗ) originally referred to a device or method, with the sense of ‘a cunning trick’ developing in later use. In Latin and medieval Europe, machina described a mechanical contrivance or tool, often with a sense of ingenuity or clever design. By the 17th century in English, machine broadened to denote any complex instrument composed of moving parts powered by a source, including wind, water, or steam, and later electricity. The term retained a sense of systematic, automatic operation, leading to modern emphases on automation and machinery in science, industry, and computing. The evolution shows a shift from generic device to a symbol of industrial capability and computational systems, mirroring developments in engineering and informatics. First known use in English appears in the 14th–15th centuries through borrowings from French and Latin, with roots tracing to ancient Greek origins that highlight design, mechanism, and ingenious construction.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "machine" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "machine" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "machine"
-ing sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as mə-ˈʃēn with primary stress on the second syllable: /məˈʃiːn/. The first syllable is a schwa /mə/, the second is /ˈʃiːn/ as in ‘sheen.’ Keep the lips relaxed, the tongue high-mid for /ʃ/ and /iː/, and end with a light nasal /n/. Audio references from reputable dictionaries can reinforce the /ˈʃiːn/ vowel.
Two frequent errors: (1) overpronouncing the second syllable as /-tʃaɪn/ or /-tʃiæn/ by inserting a diphthong; (2) turning /iː/ into a shorter /ɪ/ or adding an extra syllable due to hyper-clarity. Correction: maintain a clean /iː/ in the second syllable, with /ʃ/ blending into /iː/ smoothly and finishing with a clear /n/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘machine’ vs ‘mansion’ to stabilize the vowel.
In US/UK/AU, /məˈʃiːn/ is broadly similar, but rhoticity subtly affects preceding vowels in connected speech. The UK tends to reveal clearer non-rhoticity and lighter /r/ in surrounding context; American speech maintains stronger linking and a denser /ˈʃiːn/ with slight vowel height differences. Australian speakers often have a rounded but centralized /ə/ in the first syllable and a softer /iː/ quality. All share /ˈʃiːn/ for the second syllable.
It combines a voiced/voiceless transition within a single syllable boundary and ends with a nasal consonant that can be rushed in fast speech. The /ʃ/ cluster flows into a long /iː/ vowel, requiring precise tongue elevation and jaw position. Some speakers also accidentally insert a /t/ or /d/ before /ʃ/ or insert an extra syllable due to overarticulation. Focus on keeping the /ʃ/ as a single cue and the /iː/ held.
No silent letters in standard pronunciation. The word has a clear two-syllable pattern with primary stress on the second syllable: ma-CHINE. The difficulty lies in sustaining the long /iː/ and producing the /ʃ/ before it smoothly, without creating a diphthong or extra syllable.
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