diesel engine

noun

1. a compression-ignition engine in which a spray of fuel, introduced into air compressed to a temperature of approximately 1000° F (538° C), ignites at a virtually constant pressure.

diesel engine

noun

1. a type of internal-combustion engine in which atomized fuel oil is sprayed into the cylinder and ignited by compression alone

diesel engine

/ dē′zəl /

1. An internal-combustion engine in which the fuel oil is ignited by the heat of air that has been highly compressed in the cylinder, rather than by a spark. Due to the need for the engine to withstand very high pressures, diesel engines are relatively heavy; however, they are relatively fuel-efficient, especially when running at low power.

Word History and Origins

Origin of diesel engine¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Huffing diesel engines rattle down quiet residential streets, despite the signs prohibiting vehicles weighing more than 6,000 pounds.

From Time

Beyond that, the modular nature of these platforms could let the XT carry special surveillance equipment, and power it off of either its diesel engine or its lithium batteries.

From Popular-Science

It did this to save money on the production of purportedly “clean” diesel engines.

From Time

Every major auto manufacturer now has at least one electric vehicle in production, and some—including Daimler, Volkswagen, and General Motors—have pledged to phase out the production of gas and diesel engines entirely.

From Quartz

The company’s technology means 80% to 90% of the diesel engine parts remain unchanged, according to Johnson.

From TechCrunch

The Diesel engine, however, actually burns oil in its liquid state.

From Project Gutenberg

In the meantime, others took up the work of developing the heavy oil Diesel engine for submarines.

From Project Gutenberg

In the Diesel engine there are no spark-plugs and no magneto: the engine fires itself without241 electrical help.

From Project Gutenberg

We found in the Diesel engine that when air is highly compressed it becomes very hot.

From Project Gutenberg

The cough of a Diesel engine exhaust and the clanking of gear told him that a ship was nearing.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• diesel