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 ).

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 steam engine

   a petrol 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

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 engine steam engine See also motor

Other Word Forms

• engineless adjective
• multiengine 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

McLaren have traced the engine failure in last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix that dented Norris' title hopes to a broken oil line - a McLaren issue rather than a problem with the Mercedes engine.

From BBC

The case centred on Google's position as the default search engine on a range of its own products such as Android and Chrome as well as others made by the likes of Apple.

From BBC

Immediately after an accident, stop your car and turn the engine off - you're actually committing an offence if you don't stop after a collision.

From BBC

Google’s dominance grew after it struck exclusive agreements with Apple, Samsung, AT&T and others to be the default search engine on web browsers and mobile devices.

From Los Angeles Times

The judge is allowing Google to continue to pay companies like Apple and Samsung for distribution of its search engine on devices and browsers, but will bar Google from maintaining exclusive contracts.

From BBC

Related Words

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