machine tool

noun

: a machine designed for shaping solid work

Examples of machine tool in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Radio, bicycle, and sewing machine makers produced precision machine tools key to war technology. — Literary Hub, 31 Aug. 2026 In May, Swedish police arrested two people on suspicion of violating sanctions relating to a company in Turkey that has made dozens of shipments of metalworking and metal-turning machine tools to Russia. — Emma Burrows, Fortune, 30 May 2026 The term engineering is sometimes more loosely defined, especially in Great Britain, as the manufacture or assembly of engines, machine tools, and machine parts. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 The Connecticut River Valley then became a node of machine tool manufacturing. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for machine tool

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of machine tool was in 1852

Rhymes for machine tool

See All Rhymes for machine tool

Browse Nearby Words

machine tender
machine tool
machine-tooled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Machine tool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/machine%20tool. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

machine tool

noun
: a machine (as a lathe or drill) that is driven by power and is designed for shaping solid work
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All