internal-combustion engine

noun

1. an engine of one or more working cylinders in which the process of combustion takes place within the cylinders.

internal-combustion engine

noun

1. a heat engine in which heat is supplied by burning the fuel in the working fluid (usually air)

internal-combustion engine

/ ĭn-tûr′nəl-kəm-bŭs′chən /

1. An engine whose fuel is burned inside the engine itself rather than in an outside furnace or burner. Gasoline and diesel engines are internal-combustion engines, as are gas turbine engines such as turbojets.
2. Compare steam engine

internal-combustion engine

1. Any engine powered by burning fuel inside it (for example, a standard automobile engine). Internal-combustion engines normally burn fossil fuels and therefore are a major source of air pollution . ( See smog .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of internal-combustion engine¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

The company now says it will buy more internal-combustion engine vehicles, citing weaker demand and higher operating costs for E.V.s.

From New York Times

The state’s plan to ban sales of new internal-combustion engine vehicles by 2035, approved by regulators on Thursday, sets strict limits on what automakers can and can’t sell.

From New York Times

That would make it impossible to sell internal-combustion engine cars.

From Reuters

But it has also angered environmental groups who say the extra corn production damages land and water while prolonging the era of the internal-combustion engine.

From Reuters

Some automakers have added artificial sounds to account for the absence of a growling internal-combustion engine — but Maserati said it won’t go that same route.

From The Verge