Main Entry: ¹en·gine

Pronunciation: \ˈen-jən\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English engin, from Anglo-French, from Latin ingenium natural disposition, talent, from in- + gignere to beget — more at kin

Date: 13th century

1 obsolete a : ingenuity b : evil contrivance : wile
2 a : something used to effect a purpose : agent, instrument <mournful and terrible engine of horror and of crime — E. A. Poe> b : something that produces a particular and usually desirable result <engines of economic growth>
3 a : a mechanical tool: as (1) : an instrument or machine of war (2) obsolete : a torture implement b : machinery c : any of various mechanical appliances —often used in combination <fire engine>
4 : a machine for converting any of various forms of energy into mechanical force and motion; also : a mechanism or object that serves as an energy source <black holes may be the engines for quasars>
5 : a railroad locomotive
6 : computer software that performs a fundamental function especially of a larger program

— en·gine·less adjective