Machinery refers to machines or machine systems collectively, especially those used in industry or manufacturing. It denotes the complex, interrelated components that perform work, often in an organized factory setting. The term emphasizes the functional aspect of mechanical devices as a whole rather than individual parts.
"The factory invested in new machinery to increase production efficiency."
"A tumble of gears and belts is typical of old machinery in the workshop."
"The maintenance team inspected the complex machinery for signs of wear."
"We need to upgrade the machinery to meet rising demand."
Machinery comes from French machine, ultimately from Latin machina, which traces to Greek mechanē, meaning device, contrivance, or engine. The term entered English in the late Middle Ages, initially referring to a contrivance or device for production. By the Early Modern period, machinery had acquired a broader sense: the organized set of machines forming a complex system used in industry. The word captures both the physical components (gears, belts, motors) and the organizational aspect of industrial technology. Over time, it broadened from “a machine” to “the whole system of machines” used in manufacturing and other technical domains. First attested in English around the 15th-16th centuries, machinery gradually established itself as the plural-like uncountable noun denoting the collective infrastructure of mechanical work.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Machinery" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Machinery"
-ary sounds
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Machinery is pronounced mə-ˈshi-nə-rē in US English, with primary stress on the second syllable: ma-CHI-ne-ry. IPA: US /məˈʃɪnəri/. UK: /məˈʃɪnəri/; AU: /məˈʃɪnəri/. Start with a neutral schwa /mə/ and place the main stress on /ˈʃɪn/; the final /əri/ sounds like 'uh-ree' but with a light, quick ending. Audio examples: listen to standard pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo for exact mouth positions and tempo.
Common errors: 1) stressing the wrong syllable or reducing the second syllable, 2) saying /ˈmætʃɪnəri/ by substituting /æ/ for the schwa, 3) linking or swallowing sounds in fast speech, turning /ˈʃɪn/ into /ˈʃɪn/ with reduced clarity. Correction tips: keep the primary stress on the second syllable /ˈʃɪ/ and articulate the /n/ clearly between /ɪ/ and /əri/. Practice slowly at first, then increase pace while maintaining distinct /ʃ/ and /n/.” ,
US/UK/AU all share /məˈʃɪnəri/ with stress on the second syllable, but rhotics subtly color the vowels. US speakers maintain a stronger rhotic /r/ in the final /əri/ when followed by a vowel; UK typically non-rhotic in rapid follow-ups, making /ri/ sound closer to /riː/ with less rhotic coloring. Australian English sits between, with clear but less aggressive rhoticity and crisp final /i/. Listen for the /ʃ/ clarity and the /n/ binding between /ɪ/ and /n/.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic stress pattern and the transitioning from the schwa or /ə/ to a prominent /ʃɪ/ sequence. The /ʃ/ requires a raised tongue blade near the palate, while the /ɪ/ is a short vowel that leads into a nasal /n/ before a high-front vowel /əri/. Speakers often mispronounce as /mæˈʃiːnəri/ or misplace the stress, especially in fast speech. Focus on keeping the /ˈʃɪ/ segment tight and the final /əri/ crisp.
Machinery uniquely combines a stressed /ˈʃɪ/ cluster with a trailing /əri/ sequence after a weak initial /mə/. Unlike ‘chemistry’ or ‘machinist,’ machinery has a distinct stress pattern and a longer final suffix, demanding precise tongue retraction for /ʃ/ and a clear /n/ before the /əri/. The presence of the /ʃ/ sound immediately after a weak syllable can cause syllable-timing difficulties in non-native speakers, making practice with minimal pairs invaluable.
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