Macerater Mac"er·a`ter noun One who, or that which, macerates; an apparatus for converting paper or fibrous matter into pulp.

Maceration Mac`er·a"tion noun [ Latin maceratio : confer French macération .] The act or process of macerating.

Machete Ma·che"te (mȧ*chā"ta) noun [ Spanish ] A large heavy knife resembling a broadsword, often two or three feet in length, -- used by the inhabitants of Spanish America as a hatchet to cut their way through thickets, and for various other purposes. J. Stevens.

Machiavelian Mach`i·a·vel"ian adjective [ From Machiavel , an Italian writer, secretary and historiographer to the republic of Florence.] Of or pertaining to Machiavel, or to his supposed principles; politically cunning; characterized by duplicity or bad faith; crafty.

Machiavelian Mach`i·a·vel"ian noun One who adopts the principles of Machiavel; a cunning and unprincipled politician.

Machiavelism, Machiavelianism Mach"i·a·vel·ism, Mach`i·a·vel"ian·ism noun [ Confer French machiavélisme ; Italian machiavellismo .] The supposed principles of Machiavel, or practice in conformity to them; political artifice, intended to favor arbitrary power.

Machicolated Ma·chic"o·la`ted adjective [ Late Latin machicolatus , past participle of machicolare , machicollare . See Machicolation .] Having machicolations. " Machicolated turrets." C. Kingsley.

Machicolation Mach`i·co·la"tion noun [ Confer Late Latin machicolamentum , machacolladura , French mâchicolis , mâchecoulis ; perhaps from French mèche match, combustible matter + Old French coulis , couleis , flowing, from Old French & French couler to flow. Confer Match for making fire, and Cullis .] 1. (Mil. Arch.) An opening between the corbels which support a projecting parapet, or in the floor of a gallery or the roof of a portal, for shooting or dropping missiles upon assailants attacking the base of the walls. Also, the construction of such defenses, in general, when of this character. See Illusts . of Battlement and Castle . 2. The act of discharging missiles or pouring burning or melted substances upon assailants through such apertures.

Machicoulis Ma`chi`cou`lis" noun [ French mâchicoulis .] (Mil. Arch.) Same as Machicolation .

Machinal Ma·chin"al adjective [ Latin machinalis : confer French machinal .] Of or pertaining to machines.

Machinate Mach"i·nate intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Machinated ; present participle & verbal noun Machinating .] [ Latin machinatus , past participle of machinari to devise, plot. See Machine .] To plan; to contrive; esp., to form a scheme with the purpose of doing harm; to contrive artfully; to plot. "How long will you machinate !" Sandys.

Machinate Mach"i·nate transitive verb To contrive, as a plot; to plot; as, to machinate evil.

Machination Mach`i·na"tion noun [ Latin machinatio : confer French machination .] 1. The act of machinating. Shak. 2. That which is devised; a device; a hostile or treacherous scheme; an artful design or plot.

Devilish machinations come to naught.

Milton.

His ingenious machinations had failed.

Macaulay.

Machinator Mach"i·na`tor noun [ Latin ] One who machinates, or forms a scheme with evil designs; a plotter or artful schemer. Glanvill. Sir W. Scott.

Machine Ma·chine" (mȧ*shēn") noun [ French, from Latin machina machine, engine, device, trick, Greek ..., from ... means, expedient. Confer Mechanic .] 1. 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. » The term machine is most commonly applied to such pieces of mechanism as are used in the industrial arts, for mechanically shaping, dressing, and combining materials for various purposes, as in the manufacture of cloth, etc. Where the effect is chemical, or other than mechanical, the contrivance is usually denominated an apparatus , not a machine; as, a bleaching apparatus . Many large, powerful, or specially important pieces of mechanism are called engines ; as, a steam engine , fire engine , graduating engine , etc. Although there is no well-settled distinction between the terms engine and machine among practical men, there is a tendency to restrict the application of the former to contrivances in which the operating part is not distinct from the motor. 2. Any mechanical contrivance, as the wooden horse with which the Greeks entered Troy; a coach; a bicycle. Dryden. Southey. Thackeray. 3. A person who acts mechanically or at the will of another. 4. 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.

Landor. 5. A political organization arranged and controlled by one or more leaders for selfish, private or partisan ends. [ Political Cant] 6. Supernatural agency in a poem, or a superhuman being introduced to perform some exploit. Addison. Elementary machine , a name sometimes given to one of the simple mechanical powers. See under Mechanical . -- Infernal machine . See under Infernal . -- Machine gun . See under Gun. -- Machine screw , a screw or bolt adapted for screwing into metal, in distinction from one which is designed especially to be screwed into wood. -- Machine shop , a workshop where machines are made, or where metal is shaped by cutting, filing, turning, etc. -- Machine tool , a machine for cutting or shaping wood, metal, etc., by means of a tool; especially, a machine, as a lathe, planer, drilling machine, etc., designed for a more or less general use in a machine shop, in distinction from a machine for producing a special article as in manufacturing. -- Machine twist , silken thread especially adapted for use in a sewing machine. -- Machine work , work done by a machine, in contradistinction to that done by hand labor.

Machine Ma·chine" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Machined ; present participle & verbal noun Machining .] To subject to the action of machinery; to effect by aid of machinery; to print with a printing machine.

Machiner Ma·chin"er noun One who or operates a machine; a machinist. [ R.]

Machinery Ma·chin"er·y noun [ From Machine : confer French machinerie .] 1. Machines, in general, or collectively. 2. The working parts of a machine, engine, or instrument; as, the machinery of a watch. 3. The supernatural means by which the action of a poetic or fictitious work is carried on and brought to a catastrophe; in an extended sense, the contrivances by which the crises and conclusion of a fictitious narrative, in prose or verse, are effected.

The machinery , madam, is a term invented by the critics, to signify that part which the deities, angels, or demons, are made to act in a poem.

Pope. 4. The means and appliances by which anything is kept in action or a desired result is obtained; a complex system of parts adapted to a purpose.

An indispensable part of the machinery of state.

Macaulay.

The delicate inflexional machinery of the Aryan languages.

I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

Machining Ma·chin"ing adjective Of or pertaining to the machinery of a poem; acting or used as a machine. [ Obsolete] Dryden.

Machinist Ma·chin"ist noun [ Confer French machiniste .] 1. A constrictor of machines and engines; one versed in the principles of machines. 2. One skilled in the use of machine tools. 3. A person employed to shift scenery in a theater.

Macho Ma"cho noun [ Spanish ] (Zoology) The striped mullet of California ( Mugil cephalus, or Mexicanus ).

Machærodus Ma·chæ"ro·dus (mȧ*kē"ro*dŭs), Ma*chai"ro*dus (mȧ*kī"ro*dŭs) noun [ New Latin , from Greek ma`chaira dagger + 'odoy`s tooth.] (Paleon.) A genus of extinct mammals allied to the cats, and having in the upper jaw canine teeth of remarkable size and strength; -- hence called saber-toothed tigers .

Macilency Mac"i·len·cy noun [ See Macilent .] Leanness. [ Obsolete] Sandys.

Macilent Mac"i·lent adjective [ Latin macilentus , from macies leanness, macere to be lean.] Lean; thin. [ Obsolete] Bailey.

Macintosh Mac"in·tosh noun Same as Mackintosh .

Mackerel Mack"er·el noun [ Old French maquerel , French maquereau , from Dutch makelaar mediator, agent, from makelen to act as agent.] A pimp; also, a bawd. [ Obsolete] Halliwell.

Mackerel Mack`er·el noun [ Old French maquerel , French maquereau (LL. macarellus ), probably for maclereau , from Latin macula a spot, in allusion to the markings on the fish. See Mail armor.] (Zoology) Any species of the genus Scomber , and of several related genera. They are finely formed and very active oceanic fishes. Most of them are highly prized for food. » The common mackerel ( Scomber scombrus ), which inhabits both sides of the North Atlantic, is one of the most important food fishes. It is mottled with green and blue. The Spanish mackerel ( Scomberomorus maculatus ), of the American coast, is covered with bright yellow circular spots. Bull mackerel , Chub mackerel . (Zoology) See under Chub . -- Frigate mackerel . See under Frigate . -- Horse mackerel . See under Horse . -- Mackerel bird (Zoology) , the wryneck; -- so called because it arrives in England at the time when mackerel are in season. -- Mackerel cock (Zoology) , the Manx shearwater; -- so called because it precedes the appearance of the mackerel on the east coast of Ireland. -- Mackerel guide . (Zoology) See Garfish (a) . -- Mackerel gull (Zoology) any one of several species of gull which feed upon or follow mackerel, as the kittiwake. -- Mackerel midge (Zoology) , a very small oceanic gadoid fish of the North Atlantic. It is about an inch and a half long and has four barbels on the upper jaw. It is now considered the young of the genus Onos , or Motella . -- Mackerel plow , an instrument for creasing the sides of lean mackerel to improve their appearance. Knight. -- Mackerel shark (Zoology) , the porbeagle. -- Mackerel sky , or Mackerel-back sky , a sky flecked with small white clouds; a cirro-cumulus. See Cloud .

Mackerel sky and mare's-tails
Make tall ships carry low sails.

Old Rhyme.

Mackinaw blanket, Mackinaw Mack"i·naw blan"ket, Mack"i·naw }[ From Mackinac , the State of Michigan, where blankets and other stores were distributed to the Indians.] A thick blanket formerly in common use in the western part of the United States.

Mackinaw boat Mack"i·naw boat A flat-bottomed boat with a pointed prow and square stern, using oars or sails or both, used esp. on the upper Great Lakes and their tributaries.

Mackinaw coat Mackinaw coat A short, heavy, double-breasted plaid coat, the design of which is large and striking. [ Local, U. S.]

Mackinaw trout Mackinaw trout The namaycush.

Mackintosh Mack"in·tosh noun A waterproof outer garment; -- so called from the name of the inventor.

Mackle Mac"kle noun [ See Macle .] Same as Macule .

Mackle Mac"kle transitive verb & i. To blur, or be blurred, in printing, as if there were a double impression.

Macle Ma"cle noun [ Latin macula a spot: confer French macle . Confer Mackle , Mascle .] (Min.) (a) Chiastolite; -- so called from the tessellated appearance of a cross section. See Chiastolite . (b) A crystal having a similar tessellated appearance. (c) A twin crystal.

Macled Ma"cled adjective 1. (Min.) (a) Marked like macle (chiastolite). (b) Having a twin structure. See Twin , adjective 2. See Mascled .

Maclurea Ma·clu"re·a noun [ New Latin Named from William Maclure , the geologist.] (Paleon.) A genus of spiral gastropod shells, often of large size, characteristic of the lower Silurian rocks.

Maclurin Ma·clu"rin noun (Chemistry) See Morintannic .

Macrame lace Mac"ra·me lace" A coarse lace made of twine, used especially in decorating furniture.

Macrencephalic, Macrencephalous Mac`ren·ce·phal"ic, Mac`ren·ceph"a·lous adjective [ Macro + encephalic , encephalous .] Having a large brain.

Macro- Mac"ro- [ Greek makro`s , adj.] A combining form signifying long , large , great ; as macro diagonal, macro spore.

Macro-chemistry Mac`ro-chem"is·try noun [ Macro- + chemistry .] (Chemistry) The science which treats of the chemical properties, actions or relations of substances in quantity; -- distinguished from micro-chemistry .

Macrobiotic Mac`ro·bi·ot"ic adjective [ Greek ... long- lived; makro`s long + ... life: confer French macrobiotique .] Long-lived. Dunglison.

Macrobiotics Mac`ro·bi·ot"ics noun (Physiol.) The art of prolonging life.

Macrocephalous Mac`ro·ceph"a·lous adjective [ Macro + Greek kefalh` the head.] 1. Having a large head. 2. (Botany) Having the cotyledons of a dicotyledonous embryo confluent, and forming a large mass compared with the rest of the body. Henslow.

Macrochires Mac`ro·chi"res noun plural [ New Latin , from Greek makro`s long + ... hand.] (Zoology) A division of birds including the swifts and humming birds. So called from the length of the distal part of the wing.

Macrocosm Mac"ro·cosm noun [ Macro- + Greek ... the world: confer French macrocosme .] The great world; that part of the universe which is exterior to man; -- contrasted with microcosm , or man. See Microcosm .

Macrocosmic Mac`ro·cos"mic adjective Of or pertaining to the macrocosm. Tylor.

Macrocystis Mac`ro·cys"tis noun [ New Latin See Macro- , and Cyst .] (Botany) An immensely long blackish seaweed of the Pacific ( Macrocystis pyrifera ), having numerous almond-shaped air vessels.

Macrodactyl Mac`ro·dac"tyl (măk`ro*dăk"tĭl) noun [ Greek makroda`ktylos long-fingered; makro`s long + da`ktylos finger: confer French macrodactyle .] (Zoology) One of a group of wading birds ( Macrodactyli ) having very long toes. [ Written also macrodactyle .]