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Glite Dictionary
franking machine

franking machine

5.7
A machine that puts postage marks on letters and calculates the cost
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : máquina de franqueo
  • Using a franking machine saves time compared to manual stamping of letters.

Examples

  • The company recently invested in a new franking machine to streamline its outgoing mail.

  • Can you show me how the franking machine works?

  • The franking machine calculates the exact postal charges for every parcel.

  • The franking machine is essential for our mailing process.

  • The franking machine calculates the exact postal charges for every parcel.

  • The company recently invested in a new franking machine to streamline its outgoing mail.

  • Using a franking machine saves time compared to manual stamping of letters.

Synonyms

postage meter
vsfranking machine
1 4.2

A machine that prints paid postage on mail and records the cost

is for general automatic stamping and calculating postage for single items

How Automatic

franking machine
  • UK
5.7
handstamp
1 4.1

Surface Forms

franking machine singular
franking machines plural

Morphology

frank + machine

The noun is transparently built from 'frank' (to apply a postage mark) + 'machine' (a device), so its meaning — a device that applies postage marks and handles postage calculation — is directly derivable from the parts. This is a regular verb+machine nominalization pattern found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily understand it.

Etymology

Franking machine The name franking machine comes from the verb 'to frank', which meant marking mail as 'postage paid', and the word machine for a device. So a franking machine is a device that prints the paid mark and the cost on letters and packages, which is why the name means 'a machine that stamps and calculates postage'.