steam engine

American  

noun

1. an engine worked by steam, typically one in which a sliding piston in a cylinder is moved by the expansive action of the steam generated in a boiler.

---

steam-engine British  

noun

1. an engine that uses the thermal energy of steam to produce mechanical work, esp one in which steam from a boiler is expanded in a cylinder to drive a reciprocating piston

---

steam engine Scientific  

1. An engine in which the energy of hot steam is converted into mechanical power, especially an engine in which the force of expanding steam is used to drive one or more pistons. The source of the steam is typically external to the part of the machine that converts the steam energy into mechanical energy.

2. Compare internal-combustion engine

---

Other Word Forms

• steam-engine adjective

Etymology

Origin of steam engine

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

Nearly 80% of Louisiana’s sugar mills relied on steam engines, making it the most heavily capitalized agricultural region.

From The Wall Street Journal

He highlighted an example from history - James Watt is synonymous with the steam engine, even though he improved it rather than invented it.

From BBC

The whistle of a train interrupts the tourist chatter, and a steam engine pulling a long line of freight carriages slowly chugs across the railway bridge from Russia to North Korea.

From BBC

Once they arrived, inventions like the steam engine and indoor plumbing likely helped the insects travel further and get cozy living indoors, where they are most commonly found today.

From Seattle Times

It sat next to a steam engine dubbed “Old Dinah” that eventually replaced the mule teams.

From Los Angeles Times