Wiktionary(1.50 / 4 votes)Rate this definition: 1  dilemma(Noun) A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable. 2  dilemma(Noun) (disputed) A difficult circumstance or problem.
The lathe is an ancient tool, dating at least to ancient Egypt and known to be used in Assyria and ancient Greece. The lathe was very important to the Industrial Revolution. It is known as the mother of machine tools, as it was the first machine tool that lead to the invention of other machine tools.
A lathe has to be particularly robust and solid to ensure that it provides enough power necessary for the clamping of the workpiece and that it is able to rotate the workpiece at high speeds. There are a variety of sizes for lathes ranging from small table machines up to large lathes that are several meters long.