The difference of Test machine & testing machine

[Piak]

Could anyone help grammatically explain the difference between Test machine and Testing machine, the difference of their meanings and how to use them. please?

[BobK]

Having written about one in a former life, I would say 'test machine'; but I wouldn't say 'testing machine' was wrong - it follows the analogy of many other '-ing' machines ('washing','sorting','mincing'...). It might be useful to decide 'Is it a machine that does it, or a machine that helps a person to do it). A lot of the latter sort are '-er's (even with the word 'test', but only when qualified: 'Have you seen my circuit-tester - it's not where I left it; did you put it back in the box?'). 'Tester' on its own has a special meaning, particularly in the field of cosmetics: a 'tester' is a little bottle of something, used for trying out the contents.; or sometimes it's a full-sized bottle, but it's the only one with the seal broken.

b

PS A tester is also an old word for a sort of bed, I think. I'll leave the Googling as 'an exercise for the reader'

[Piak]

Thank you BobK, How about their meanings, they have the same meaning or not?

I saw both of them in ISO documents, I can not give a proper meaning to each of them in Thai. It is very confusing because my English is not good enough.

Is it possible if I give a meaning to Test machine = machine of a test which means the machine used for testing purpose or for testing something? As a tool for testing something.

While Testing machine is a machine to be tested for some results by using a test machine to find the results of the testing machine?

Please help giving the proper meaning of each phrase according to the point of view of the English-native speaker.

Thank you in advance.

[mykwyner]

A test machine could be a machine that is being tested. Compare to a test flight, a test drive, or a test case.

[BobK]

Thank you BobK, How about their meanings, they have the same meaning or not?

I saw both of them in ISO documents, I can not give a proper meaning to each of them in Thai. It is very confusing because my English is not good enough.

Is it possible if I give a meaning to Test machine = machine of a test which means the machine is or is to be used for testing purposes or for testing something? As a tool for testing something. In that context, that's certainly what it means.

While Testing machine is a machine to be tested for some results by using a test machine to find the results of the testing machine?

Please help giving the proper meaning of each phrase according to the point of view of the English-native speaker.

Thank you in advance.

The second meaning makes no sense. You are referring to a machine being tested or under test (both meaning the same).

But be very careful with ISO documents. They usually develop and use very specific meaning which must be strictly applied. These definitions are usually specified in some 'master document', and must be applied throughout the relevant series (for example, definitions in X.400 apply throughout the X4**...). (I'm way out of touch with ISO documents, and in order to interpret them you need to talk to a specialist in the technical area; what those documents do with English is ... unspeakable )

b

[Piak]

A test machine could be a machine that is being tested. Compare to a test flight, a test drive, or a test case.

I get it now!

Thank you so much, mykwyner, for this helpful clue of meanings in question.

[Piak]

The second meaning makes no sense. You are referring to a machine being tested or under test (both meaning the same).

But be very careful with ISO documents. They usually develop and use very specific meaning which must be strictly applied. These definitions are usually specified in some 'master document', and must be applied throughout the relevant series (for example, definitions in X.400 apply throughout the X4**...). (I'm way out of touch with ISO documents, and in order to interpret them you need to talk to a specialist in the technical area; what those documents do with English is ... unspeakable )

b

Thank you again BobK, for your additional suggestions on this matter.