Synonyms and antonyms of Describing machines and pieces of equipment in British Thesaurus

all-singing, all-dancing (adjective)

British an all-singing, all-dancing system or piece of equipment is very advanced and able to do everything you want it to

analog ()

another spelling of analogue

analogue (adjective)

science using signals or information represented by continuously changing quantities of space, electrical current etc

at the touch of a button ()

if a machine works at the touch of a button, it works extremely quickly and easily

automatic (adjective)

an automatic machine or process works by itself rather than being operated by people

automatically (adverb)

by a machine, without people doing anything

auxiliary (adjective)

auxiliary equipment or systems are available for use if the main one fails

broken (adjective)

if a machine is broken, it is not working correctly

built (adjective)

used for showing where a machine or structure was produced or made

clean (adjective)

clean machines and processes do not create a lot of pollution

clever (adjective)

a clever tool, machine, or invention is unusual but good and effective

clockwork (noun)

operated by a set of springs that work when you turn a handle or key

come on stream ()

to start to work or be effective

cordless (adjective)

a cordless tool or piece of equipment works without being connected to the electricity supply

cranky (adjective)

informal likely to stop working at any time

dead (adjective)

a piece of equipment that is dead is no longer working or able to receive an electrical signal

digital (adjective)

a digital clock or instrument shows information as a row of numbers

dodgy (adjective)

Britishinformal not operating correctly

electric (adjective)

working by electricity

electrical (adjective)

working by electricity

entry-level (adjective)

entry-level equipment is the most basic or simple type intended for people who are beginning an activity

fail-safe (adjective)

designed to make a machine or piece of equipment stop working if part of it stops operating normally

female (adjective)

a female part of a machine has a hole in it into which a male part fits

first generation (noun)

the first type of a particular machine or piece of equipment to be produced

foot (noun)

operated using your foot or feet

gas-fired (adjective)

using gas as a fuel

graduated (adjective)

a graduated container or piece of equipment has marks on it to show measurements

hands-free (adjective)

hands-free equipment can be operated without using your hands, for example by using a headset or a remote control

hard-wired (adjective)

a hard-wired computer system or other system cannot be changed by the user because it has been built to operate in a particular way

have a mind of its own ()

if a machine or object has a mind of its own, it behaves in a way that you do not expect

Heath Robinson (adjective)

British a Heath Robinson machine or method is funny and clever but much too complicated for whatever job it is intended to perform

heat-seeking (adjective)

heat-seeking equipment is able to find something using the heat it produces

heavy (adjective)

heavy machines, vehicles, or weapons are large and powerful

high-performance (adjective)

designed to be very fast or powerful

homing (adjective)

used for describing military equipment such as a missile that is able to find a particular place or object

hydraulic (adjective)

a hydraulic machine uses the pressure of water or oil to make it work

idle (adjective)

machines or factories that are idle are not being used

incompatible (adjective)

ideas, systems, or machines that are incompatible are not able to work or exist together because of basic differences

inflatable (adjective)

an inflatable object must be filled with air before you can use it

inflatable (noun)

an object that you fill with air before you use it, for example a ball or boat

inoperative (adjective)

formal an inoperative machine, system, or law is not working and cannot be made to work

in working order ()

working correctly, without any problems

jammed (adjective)

a piece of equipment that is jammed has some part of it that is not moving correctly

labour-saving (adjective)

labour-saving equipment such as washing machines and vacuum cleaners do jobs in a quick and effective way so that you do not have to spend a lot of time doing them yourself

low (adjective)

used about equipment that is not producing much energy, or that has not got much energy left

male (adjective)

a male part of a device has a long narrow piece that fits into a hole

manned (adjective)

operated or controlled by people. Some people avoid using this word because they think it is offensive to women, and they use staffed or crewed instead

manual (adjective)

operated without electricity

manual (adjective)

operated by a person instead of automatically or using a computer

mechanical (adjective)

operated by a machine or system of moving parts

mechanical (adjective)

relating to engines and machines, and the way that they work

motorised ()

another spelling of motorized

motorized (adjective)

fitted with an engine, often as an extra benefit

multi-user (adjective)

involving or capable of dealing with a lot of different users at the same time

off (adjective)

a machine or piece of electrical equipment that is off is not switched on or is not being used

on (adverb)

if a machine or piece of electrical equipment is on, it is in use or working

on-board (adjective)

fitted as part of a car, plane etc

one-man (adjective)

designed for just one person

on-off (adjective)

an on-off switch is one that you press to make a machine work or stop working

on the blink ()

if a piece of electrical equipment is on the blink, it is not working very well

out (adverb)

mainly American used for saying that a machine or a piece of electrical equipment is not working

out of order ()

a machine or piece of equipment that is out of order is not working correctly

plug-in (adjective)

a plug-in piece of equipment gets power by being connected to an electricity supply by means of a plug

pneumatic (adjective)

a pneumatic tool or piece of equipment works using compressed air

portable (noun)

something that is portable, for example a small computer, television, or other small piece of electrical equipment

power (adjective)

operated by electricity or by a motor

programmable (adjective)

a machine that is programmable can be given instructions so that it will do something automatically

push-button (adjective)

operated by pressing a button or switch

radio-controlled (adjective)

a radio-controlled toy or piece of equipment is operated using radio signals

redundant (adjective)

designed to operate instead of a piece of electronic equipment or system if it fails

reliable (adjective)

a reliable vehicle, piece of equipment, or system always works well

remote (adjective)

capable of being operated from a distance or by using a remote control

right-hand (adjective)

designed or intended for the right hand

right-handed (adjective)

designed to be used by a right-handed person

robotic (adjective)

used for describing a part of a machine that moves around by itself

single (adjective)

designed for one person, or used by one person

sluggish (adjective)

not performing or reacting as well as usual

smart (adjective)

smart machines, especially weapons, use computer technology to make them effective

souped-up (adjective)

informal made faster or more powerful or effective

spring-loaded (adjective)

operated by a spring inside

steam (noun)

operated by steam

submersible (adjective)

a submersible machine or vehicle can work under water

transistorized (adjective)

made smaller by using transistors

two-way (adjective)

able both to send and to receive messages

unconnected (adjective)

not joined to a system, for example in order to provide or receive electricity or communication

unfriendly (adjective)

not easy to use or operate

unmanned (adjective)

used for describing a building or machine that does not have any staff there to manage or operate it. Some people avoid using this word because they consider it offensive to women, and use unstaffed or uncrewed instead

unsophisticated (adjective)

used for describing simple tools and pieces of equipment that are not advanced

user-friendly (adjective)

a user-friendly system or piece of equipment is easy to use or understand

voice-activated (adjective)

a machine or piece of equipment that is voice-activated begins to operate when it hears someone’s voice

wind-up (adjective)

a wind-up toy or machine is one that works when you turn a key several times

wired (adjective)

able to receive electronic or computer signals

wireless (adjective)

wireless technology, systems, or equipment such as mobile phones does not use wires, but communicates using electronic signals

wirelessly (adverb)

using electronic signals instead of wires