machinery
/ˈməʃɪnəri/
NOUN
1. Machines used collectively in industrial or production settings
A collection of machines, mechanical equipment, and devices used together to perform work, manufacture products, or carry out industrial and commercial operations.
1.1. Industrial and manufacturing equipment
Refers to machines and mechanical equipment used in factories, workshops, production facilities, and industrial processes.
Synonyms
- apparatus
- equipment
- machines
- mechanisms
- appliances
- contraptions
- contrivances
- engines
- implements
- instruments
- tools
Examples
- The bustling factory relied on advanced machinery for efficient production.
- In the construction site, heavy machinery roared to life as the project began.
- The textile industry upgraded its outdated equipment with cutting-edge machinery.
- The farmer carefully maintained the agricultural machinery to ensure a successful harvest.
Related Words
- manufacturing
- production
- automation
- mechanization
- industrial equipment
- machine tools
- engines
- components
- production lines
1.2. The working parts of a machine
Describes the interconnected mechanical components and moving parts that enable a machine to operate and perform its intended functions.
Synonyms
Examples
- The engineer studied the intricate machinery inside the industrial machine to identify the source of the malfunction.
- Dust and debris had accumulated inside the machinery, affecting its performance.
- The technician inspected the internal machinery before restarting the equipment.
Related Words
- components
- gears
- cogs
- levers
- pulleys
- bearings
- transmission
- mechanical assembly
NOUN
2. The parts or systems that enable something to function
The collective structure, components, procedures, or organizational systems that allow an institution, organization, or complex operation to function.
2.1. Organizational and administrative systems
Refers to the interconnected structures, agencies, procedures, and operational systems through which an organization or government carries out its activities.
Synonyms
Examples
- The machinery of government continued to operate despite the political changes.
- The organization examined its internal machinery to improve coordination between departments.
- The machinery of the legal system can be difficult for ordinary citizens to navigate.
Related Words
- administration
- bureaucracy
- governance
- institutions
- operations
- management
- procedures
- coordination
- organizational structure
2.2. Processes and mechanisms behind an activity
Describes the underlying arrangements, methods, and operational components that make a particular activity, process, or system work.
Synonyms
Examples
- The machinery behind the election process requires careful coordination among several agencies.
- The company invested in improving the administrative machinery that supports its daily operations.
- Understanding the machinery of the negotiation process helped the team identify areas for improvement.
Related Words
- process
- procedure
- operation
- framework
- organization
- implementation
- coordination
- infrastructure
NOUN
3. Devices and techniques used in literature or drama
The literary or theatrical devices, techniques, and mechanisms used to develop a plot, create dramatic effects, or bring about particular events in a story or performance.
3.1. Literary and dramatic devices
Refers to the narrative techniques, plot devices, stage mechanisms, and dramatic conventions used by writers and playwrights to shape events and produce specific effects.
Synonyms
- devices
- mechanisms
- contrivances
- apparatus
- artifices
Examples
- The playwright carefully arranged the dramatic machinery of the final act to create a powerful conclusion.
- The novel relies on familiar literary machinery to build suspense and resolve its central conflict.
- The critic examined the theatrical machinery used to produce the play's dramatic effects.
Related Words
- plot device
- dramatic effect
- stagecraft
- narrative technique
- theatrical convention
- plot structure
- storytelling
- dramatic machinery