engine

[ en-juhn ]

noun

1. a machine for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy or power to produce force and motion.
2. a railroad locomotive.
3. a fire engine.
4. Computers. a piece or collection of software that drives a later process (used in combination, as in game engine software engine ). search engine.
5. any mechanical contrivance.
6. a machine or instrument used in warfare, as a battering ram, catapult, or piece of artillery.
7. a means by which something is achieved, accomplished, or furthered:

   Trade is an engine of growth that creates jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity.

8. Obsolete. an instrument of torture, especially the rack.

engine

/ ˈɛndʒɪn /

noun

1. any machine designed to convert energy, esp heat energy, into mechanical work

   a petrol engine

   a steam engine

2. 1. a railway locomotive
   2. ( as modifier )

      the engine cab

3. military any of various pieces of equipment formerly used in warfare, such as a battering ram or gun
4. obsolete.
   any instrument or device

   engines of torture

engine

/ ĕn′jĭn /

1. A machine that turns energy into mechanical force or motion, especially one that gets its energy from a source of heat, such as the burning of a fuel. The efficiency of an engine is the ratio between the kinetic energy produced by the machine and the energy needed to produce it.
2. See more at internal-combustion engineSee also motor

Other Word Forms

• en·gine·less adjective
• mul·ti·en·gine noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of engine¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English engin, from Anglo-French, Old French engign, enging, from Latin ingenium “nature, innate quality, mental power, clever invention,” equivalent to in- “in” + -genium (equivalent to gen- “begetting” + -ium noun suffix); in- ², kin, -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of engine¹

C13: from Old French engin, from Latin ingenium nature, talent, ingenious contrivance, from in- ² + -genium, related to gignere to beget, produce

Example Sentences

For instance, Neodymium is used to make the powerful magnets used in loudspeakers, computer hard drives, EV motors and jet engines that enable them to be smaller and more efficient.

From BBC

The engine’s still intact, and with only 56,000 miles on the truck, it would be a shame to just junk it.

From Los Angeles Times

Airlines and engine manufacturers had to conduct research to ascertain if there was a safe level of ash concentration which wouldn't damage jet engines.

From BBC

It's not like the present engines are EV quiet.

From BBC

“The engines of the world’s AI infrastructure are being built in the United States for the first time,” Jensen Huang, founder and chief executive of Nvidia, said in a news release.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• appliance
• diesel
• generator
• instrument
• motor
• power plant
• tool
• transformer
• turbine
• weapon