machinery
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a group of large machines used in a factory or for a specific type of work.
the machines of a particular kind or those used in a specific place, considered collectively. Uncountable in this sense.
Simple“The farm uses heavy machinery to harvest the wheat in late summer.”
In context“The factory floor was filled with heavy machinery, much of which had been imported from Germany to ensure the highest precision in manufacturing.”
PitfallThe factory bought many machineries. The factory bought a lot of machinery.Machinery is an uncountable noun and does not have a plural form ending in -ies.
- 02 C1 Advanced
the internal parts of a machine that make it move and work.
the working parts of a machine or instrument. Often used to describe the internal mechanisms of a device.
Simple“You can see the complex machinery inside the old clock through the glass.”
In context“The engineer spent hours cleaning the delicate machinery of the watch, ensuring that every tiny gear could rotate without friction.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
the systems, rules, or people that make a large organization or government function.
the organized systems and procedures through which a complex organization or government operates.
Simple“The machinery of government can be very slow when you need a quick answer.”
In context“The administrative machinery of the university was so complex that even simple requests took months to process through the various committees.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
the special methods or characters an author uses to make a story work.
the literary or dramatic devices used to move a plot forward or create a specific effect. Often refers to supernatural elements in classical poetry.
Simple“The author uses the machinery of a ghost story to talk about real history.”
In context“Critics praised the way the playwright handled the machinery of the plot, weaving together three separate storylines into a single, satisfying conclusion.”
“A number of aircraft and 50 fire engines, assisted by water tankers and construction machinery, were deployed to try and tackle the two fires.”
“They also have sophisticated molecular machinery that allows them to recognize particular bacteria, reproduce inside them and overcome the many defense systems bacteria have evolved to fight them.”
From machine + -ery. Compare French machinerie.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.