'a machine' and 'a device'

[tulipflower]

Can we use 'machine' and 'device' interchangeably? How are they different?

 

[andrewg927]

Re: 'a machine' and 'a devise'

Not usually. To me, a device is much smaller than a machine. Ex. A phone is a device but a washing machine is a machine.

 

[emsr2d2]

Re: 'a machine' and 'a devise'

Tulipflower, I have corrected the spelling of "device" in your title. You wrote "devise" which is a verb.

 

[jutfrank]

Re: 'a machine' and 'a devise'

A machine is a piece of mechanical apparatus. It has mechanisms (moving parts).

A smartphone is electronic, not mechanical. It's an electronic device.