The term defined as the force applied to a machine is input force.

Here's why:

* Input force: This is the force that you put into the machine to make it work. It's the effort you apply to the machine.

* Output force: This is the force that the machine produces. It's the force that the machine exerts on the object it's working on.

For example, if you push down on a lever to lift a rock, the force you apply to the lever is the input force, and the force the lever exerts on the rock is the output force.