Definition of 'engine'

COBUILD frequency band

engine

(endʒɪn

)

Word forms: plural engines

1. countable noun A2

The engine of a car or other vehicle is the part that produces the power which makes the vehicle move.

He got into the driving seat and started the engine.

...an engine failure that forced a jetliner to crash-land in a field.

Synonyms: machine, motor, mechanism, generator More Synonyms of engine

2. countable noun B2

An engine is also the large vehicle that pulls a railway train.

In 1941, the train would have been pulled by a steam engine.

More Synonyms of engine

British English pronunciation

It seems that your browser is blocking this video content.

To access it, add this site to the exceptions or modify your security settings, then refresh this page.

American English pronunciation

It seems that your browser is blocking this video content.

To access it, add this site to the exceptions or modify your security settings, then refresh this page.

engine in British English

(ˈɛndʒɪn

)

noun

any machine designed to convert energy, esp heat energy, into mechanical work

a steam engine

a petrol engine

a railway locomotive

(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

Word origin

C13: from Old French engin, from Latin ingenium nature, talent, ingenious contrivance, from in-2 + -genium, related to gignere to beget, produce

COBUILD frequency band

engine in American English

(ˈɛndʒən )

nounOrigin: ME engin, native talent, hence something produced by this < OFr < L ingenium, natural ability, genius < in-, in + base of gignere, to beget: see genus

any machine that uses energy to develop mechanical power; esp., a machine for transmitting motion to some other machine

a railroad locomotive

any instrument or machine; apparatus

engines of warfare, engines of torture

4. fire engine

5. archaic

any means or device

6. computing

any software designed to perform a basic function

engine in American English

(ˈendʒən)

noun

a machine for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy or power to produce force and motion

a railroad locomotive

a fire engine

any mechanical contrivance

a machine or instrument used in warfare, as a battering ram, catapult, or piece of artillery

6. obsolete

an instrument of torture, esp. the rack

Derived forms

engineless

adjective

Word origin

[1250–1300; ME engin ‹ AF, OF ‹ L ingenium nature, innate quality, esp. mental power, hence a clever invention, equiv. to in- in-2 + -genium, equiv. to gen- begetting ( see kin) + -ium -ium]

COBUILD frequency band

engine in Automotive Engineering

(ɛndʒɪn)

Word forms: (regular plural) engines

noun

(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Engine, transmission, and exhaust)

The engine of a vehicle is the part that converts the energy of the fuel into mechanical energy, and produces the power which makes the vehicle move.

He got into the driving seat and started the engine.

He was sitting in the driver's seat revving the engine to clean out the carburetor.

She heard the car doors slam, the engine start up, and the car pull away.

CI engine, internal combustion engine, oversquare engine, reciprocating engine, spark ignition engine , spark ignition engine , engine bay, engine management system, engine mount

COBUILD frequency band

engine in Mechanical Engineering

(ɛndʒɪn)

Word forms: (regular plural) engines

noun

(Mechanical engineering: Machinery and components)

An engine is a machine designed to use energy, especially heat energy, to make a vehicle move.

The purpose of a car engine is to provide the power to make the car move.

Turn on the ignition so the car's engine is running.

An engine is a machine designed to use energy, especially heat energy, to make a vehicle move.

COBUILD frequency band

engine in Electrical Engineering

(ɛndʒɪn)

Word forms: (regular plural) engines

noun

(Electrical engineering: Electrical power, Motor or generator)

An engine is a device for converting one form of energy into another, especially for converting other forms of energy into mechanical energy.

Diesel or gas-fired engines are the principal types used in electric plants.

Recent technological developments that involve thermo-acoustic engines and converters hold the promise of converting up to 40 percent of high-grade thermal energy into electric power.

An engine is a device for converting one form of energy into another, especially for converting other forms of energy into mechanical energy.

Examples of 'engine' in a sentence
engine

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content that does not reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company HarperCollins.

We welcome feedback: report an example sentence to the Collins team. Read more…

Big cars wait with their engines running.Some of those were powered by gasoline engines.Waiting for the fire engine and fire fighters to put out the fire!Ferrari's engine and aerodynamic upgrades were by no means a failure.The subsidies overwhelmingly go towards cars with petrol and diesel engines.You can set the URL address bar to use your chosen search engine.The Canadian paraglider had a propeller strapped to her back but was gliding without engine power at the time of the near miss last July.Were the pilots not warned of engine failure or did a system erroneously shut down the engines?This can boost engine power and torque by up to 30%.I also restore miniature railway engines in there.