gas engine

American  

noun

1. an internal-combustion engine driven by a mixture of air and gas.

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gas engine British  

noun

1. a type of internal-combustion engine using a flammable gas, such as coal gas or natural gas, as fuel

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Etymology

Origin of gas engine

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

In most scenarios, the gas engine acts as a generator.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke about his state's leadership on climate policies, including a ban on the sale of new gas engine vehicles by 2035.

From Reuters • Sep. 20, 2023

Some environmentalists don’t like PHEVs because they’re not pure electric drive and people don’t always charge up, instead relying more heavily on the gas engine.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2023

"The reason why we think this is a great opportunity for us is that with the traditional gas engine, you have engines which are mostly mechanical. But with EVs, it's batteries and motors," he explains.

From BBC • Jun. 15, 2023

They glided lower, listening with keen ears, and Serafina Pekkala soon made out the beat of a gas engine, muffled by the fog.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman