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 is a machine that shapes pieces of material. Usually the material being molded is wood or metal, and is referred to as the work.. The most common lathes are woodworking ones.The wood sits between two parts of the lathe called the headsock and the tailsock. Do not lean onto the lathe. 2  Never place or leave tools on the lathe. 3  This creates a risk of the tools being left on the machine when it gets turned on. 4  Keep the machine well lubricated and maintained. 5  Do not measure a piece of work while it is spinning.