Machine Components Basics

 ancillary

noun an extra piece of equipment for a system

ball bearing

noun one of several small hard metal balls that are used between moving parts of a machine to help the parts move smoothly

bearing

noun a part of a machine that holds a moving part

belt

noun a circular band that helps to turn or move something in a machine

bucket

noun a part of a machine shaped like an open container, used for moving soil, stones etc

button

noun a small object that you press to make a machine start working or perform a particular action

cam

noun a part fixed to a wheel that makes something move backwards and forwards or up and down when the wheel turns

camshaft

noun a bar in an engine, fixed to a cam

carriage

noun a moving part of a machine that supports another part

chamber

noun an enclosed space, especially one inside a machine, a plant, or someone’s body

claw

noun a curved end on a tool or machine, used for pulling or picking things up

clockwork

noun a set of springs inside a toy or other object that make it work when you turn a handle or key

cog

noun a wheel in a machine that fits into the edge of another wheel or part and makes it turn

collar

noun a part of an object or machine that fits around something curved and protects it

combustion chamber

noun the part of an engine where the fuel is burned

component

noun one of the different parts that a machine or piece of equipment consists of

compression chamber

noun the part of a jet engine where air is put under extra pressure before it is sent into the combustion chamber to be mixed with fuel and burned

connector

noun an object fixed to the end of a wire, used for connecting two pieces of equipment

controller

noun a part of a machine that controls a particular process

crank

noun a piece of equipment that turns to make something move or start

cutout

noun a piece of equipment that automatically switches off a machine when something goes wrong

cylinder

noun the tube in an engine that a piston moves backwards and forwards in

dial

noun a round instrument on a machine that shows you the amount of something, for example heat or pressure

drum

noun a circular part of a machine such as a washing machine

dynamo

noun physics a piece of equipment that changes the movement of an engine or machine into electricity

feed

noun the part of a machine through which you put things into the machine

feeder

noun the part of a machine through which you put things into the machine

flywheel

noun a heavy wheel in a machine or engine that keeps it operating at a steady speed

gasket

noun a flat ring of rubber, metal, or plastic that you put between two surfaces in a pipe or machine so that liquid or gas cannot escape

gear

noun the part of an engine that changes engine power into movement. Most cars in the UK have 5 or 6 gears that you operate yourself

gear

noun a machine or part of a machine that does a particular job

guard

noun something that covers a dangerous part of a machine

guts

noun informal the most important parts of a system, plan, or machine

heat pump

noun a piece of equipment that carries heat from one place to another, for example in a fridge

housing

noun a container or cover for something such as a moving part of a machine

hydraulics

noun the hydraulic parts of a machine

inlet

noun a tube through which a liquid or gas goes into a machine

innards

noun informal the working parts inside a machine or piece of equipment

instrumentation

noun a set of instruments and controls used for operating a machine

intake

noun the part of a machine or engine where air or fuel is taken in

jacket

noun a cover around a machine or piece of equipment that controls its temperature or prevents heat loss

jaws

noun the parts of a machine that open and close, either to hold something or to pick something up and move it from one place to another place

linkup

noun a connection between machines or electronic equipment

lock

noun a piece of equipment used for preventing someone from using a vehicle, machine etc

machinery

noun the moving or working parts of a machine

mechanism

noun a machine or part of a machine

module

noun a part of a machine such as a computer

motor

noun the part of a machine or vehicle that makes it work or move

moving part

noun a part of a machine that moves when the machine is working

part

noun one of the smaller individual pieces that a machine or vehicle is made of

pedal

noun a part that you push with your foot in order to operate a bicycle, vehicle, or machine

photoelectric cell

noun a piece of equipment that reacts to light and is used in machines such as burglar alarms (=machines that make a loud noise if a thief tries to get into a building)

pinion

noun a small metal wheel inside a machine that moves other wheels

piston

noun the part of an engine that moves up and down to create power

plunger

noun a part of a machine or piece of equipment that you push down

radiator

noun the part of an engine that keeps it from getting too hot

ram

noun a part of a machine that pushes something into a position by hitting it with great force

ratchet

noun a part of a machine consisting of a wheel or bar with teeth on it. Another metal piece fits into it, allowing it to move in only one direction.

regulator

noun a piece of equipment that controls the way that a machine works

remote

noun a remote control

remote control

noun a system of controlling a piece of equipment from a short distance away

reservoir

noun a container, often part of a machine, where liquid is kept for a particular purpose

roller

noun a tube in a machine or piece of equipment that goes round and round in order to make something flat, or in order to crush, spread, or print something

seal

noun a shaped piece of something such as rubber that closes a hole inside a machine so that air or other substances cannot get in or out

shaft

noun a metal bar in an engine that causes a part to move when another part moves

shovel

noun a part of a large vehicle or machine used for digging or moving large amounts of soil

skirt

noun something that covers the lower part of a machine or a vehicle

skirting

noun something that covers the lower part of something such as a machine

sleeve

noun a tube that surrounds and protects part of a machine

socket

noun a part of a machine into which a round part called a ball fits, so that it can move

spare

noun British a spare part 1

spare part

noun a part for a vehicle or machine that you can use to replace one that breaks

spindle

noun a part of a machine that is shaped like a stick and has a wheel or other object spinning round it

sprocket

noun one of several parts on the outside of a wheel that fit into the holes in something such as a chain or a piece of film and pull or turn it when the wheel turns

stabiliser

a British spelling of stabilizer

stabilizer

noun a part on a vehicle or machine that keeps it steady or in the correct position

starter

noun the part of a machine or engine that makes it start

starter motor

noun a motor that is part of a machine or engine and makes it start

sump

noun British the part at the bottom of an engine that holds the oil

supercharger

noun a piece of equipment that makes an engine more powerful by supplying air into the fuel at a faster rate than normal

timer

noun a piece of equipment that makes a machine start or stop working at a time that you have chosen

tooth

noun one of a row of narrow pointed parts that form the edge of a tool or machine

treadle

noun a part of a machine that you move up and down with your foot to make the machine work

tripwire

noun a piece of wire that is fixed to something such as a gun or a camera and operates it when someone touches or pulls the wire

unit

noun a small machine that does a particular job by itself, or is a part of a larger machine

valve

noun the part of a machine or piece of equipment that opens and closes in order to control the flow of air or liquid

vane

noun a long flat blade designed to be moved by wind or water, especially in order to provide power for a machine

the wheel

noun a round part inside a machine that fits into another similar part and makes it turn

workings

noun the workings of something such as a system, organization, or piece of equipment are the parts that control it or make it work