Mechanism vs. Machine — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Mechanism and Machine
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Compare with Definitions
Mechanism
A machine or mechanical appliance.
Machine
A machine is any physical system with ordered structural and functional properties. It may represent human-made or naturally occurring device molecular machine that uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an action.
Mechanism
The arrangement of connected parts in a machine.
Machine
A device consisting of fixed and moving parts that redirects mechanical energy to accomplish a particular task or set of tasks.
Mechanism
A system of parts that operate or interact like those of a machine
The mechanism of the solar system.
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Machine
See simple machine.
Mechanism
An instrument or a process, physical or mental, by which something is done or comes into being
"The mechanism of oral learning is largely that of continuous repetition" (T.G.E. Powell).
Machine
See compound machine.
Mechanism
A habitual manner of acting to achieve an end.
Machine
A system or device for doing work, as an automobile or jackhammer, together with its power source and auxiliary equipment.
Mechanism
(Psychology) A usually unconscious mental and emotional pattern that shapes behavior in a given situation or environment
A defense mechanism.
Machine
A system or device, such as a computer, that performs or assists in the performance of a human task
The machine is down.
Mechanism
The sequence of steps in a chemical reaction.
Machine
An intricate natural system or organism, such as the human body.
Mechanism
(Philosophy) The doctrine that all natural phenomena are explicable by material causes and mechanical principles.
Machine
A person who acts in a rigid, mechanical, or unconscious manner.
Mechanism
(within a machine or machinery) Any mechanical means for the conversion or control of motion, or the transmission or control of power.
Machine
An organized group of people whose members are or appear to be under the control of one or more leaders
A political machine.
Mechanism
Any combination of cams, gears, links, belts, chains and logical mechanical elements.
Machine
A device used to produce a stage effect, especially a mechanical means of lowering an actor onto the stage.
Mechanism
A group of entities, such as objects, that interact together.
Machine
A literary device used to produce an effect, especially the introduction of a supernatural being to resolve a plot.
Mechanism
A mental, physical, or chemical process.
Machine
An answering machine
Leave a message on my machine if I'm not home.
Mechanism
Any process of, or system designed to manage useful energy conversion.
Machine
Of, relating to, or felt to resemble a machine
Machine repairs.
Machine politics.
Mechanism
(philosophy) The theory that all natural phenomena can be explained by physical causes.
Machine
To cut, shape, or finish by machine.
Mechanism
The arrangement or relation of the parts of a machine; the parts of a machine, taken collectively; the arrangement or relation of the parts of anything as adapted to produce an effect; as, the mechanism of a watch; the mechanism of a sewing machine; the mechanism of a seed pod.
Machine
To be cut, shaped, or finished by machine
This metal machines easily.
Mechanism
The series of causal relations that operate to produce an effect in any system; as, the mechanism of a chemical reaction.
Machine
A device that directs and controls energy, often in the form of movement or electricity, to produce a certain effect.
Mechanism
Mechanical operation or action.
He acknowledges nothing besides matter and motion; so that all must be performed either by mechanism or accident.
Machine
(dated) A vehicle operated mechanically, such as an automobile or an airplane.
Mechanism
An ideal machine; a combination of movable bodies constituting a machine, but considered only with regard to relative movements.
Machine
An answering machine or, by extension, voice mail.
I called you earlier, but all I got was the machine.
Mechanism
The atomic process that occurs during a chemical reaction;
He determined unique mechanisms for the photochemical reactions
Machine
(computing) A computer.
Game developers assume they're pushing the limits of the machine.
He refuses to turn off his Linux machine.
Mechanism
The technical aspects of doing something;
A mechanism of social control
Mechanisms of communication
The mechanics of prose style
Machine
(figuratively) A person or organisation that seemingly acts like a machine, being particularly efficient, single-minded, or unemotional.
Bruce Campbell was a "demon-killing machine" because he made quick work of killing demons.
The government has become a money-making machine.
Mechanism
A natural object resembling a machine in structure or function;
The mechanism of the ear
The mechanism of infection
Machine
Especially, the group that controls a political or similar organization; a combination of persons acting together for a common purpose, with the agencies which they use.
Mechanism
(philosophy) the philosophical theory that all phenomena can be explained in terms of physical or biological causes
Machine
(poetry) Supernatural agency in a poem, or a superhuman being introduced to perform some exploit.
Mechanism
Device consisting of a piece of machinery; has moving parts that perform some function
Machine
The system of special interest groups that supports a political party, especially in urban areas.
Machine
Penis.
Machine
(historical) A contrivance in the Ancient Greek theatre for indicating a change of scene, by means of which a god might cross the stage or deliver a divine message; the deus ex machina.
Machine
(obsolete) A bathing machine.
Machine
To make by machinery.
Machine
To shape or finish by machinery; (usually, more specifically) to shape subtractively by metal-cutting with machine-controlled toolpaths.
Machine
In general, any combination of bodies so connected that their relative motions are constrained, and by means of which force and motion may be transmitted and modified, as a screw and its nut, or a lever arranged to turn about a fulcrum or a pulley about its pivot, etc.; especially, a construction, more or less complex, consisting of a combination of moving parts, or simple mechanical elements, as wheels, levers, cams, etc., with their supports and connecting framework, calculated to constitute a prime mover, or to receive force and motion from a prime mover or from another machine, and transmit, modify, and apply them to the production of some desired mechanical effect or work, as weaving by a loom, or the excitation of electricity by an electrical machine.
Machine
Any mechanical contrivance, as the wooden horse with which the Greeks entered Troy; a coach; a bicycle.
Machine
A person who acts mechanically or at the will of another.
Machine
A combination of persons acting together for a common purpose, with the agencies which they use; as, the social machine.
The whole machine of government ought not to bear upon the people with a weight so heavy and oppressive.
Machine
A political organization arranged and controlled by one or more leaders for selfish, private or partisan ends; the Tammany machine.
Machine
Supernatural agency in a poem, or a superhuman being introduced to perform some exploit.
Machine
To subject to the action of machinery; to make, cut, shape, or modify with a machine; to effect by aid of machinery; to print with a printing machine.
Machine
Any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
Machine
An intricate organization that accomplishes its goals efficiently;
The war machine
Machine
An efficient person;
The boxer was a magnificent fighting machine
Machine
4-wheeled motor vehicle; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine;
He needs a car to get to work
Machine
A group that controls the activities of a political party;
He was endorsed by the Democratic machine
Machine
A device for overcoming resistance at one point by applying force at some other point
Machine
Turn, shape, mold, or otherwise finish by machinery
Machine
Make by machinery;
The Americans were machining while others still hand-made cars
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