engineer

¹en·gi·neer

noun \ˌen-jə-ˈnir\

Definition of ENGINEER

1

: a member of a military group devoted to engineering work

2

obsolete : a crafty schemer : plotter

3

a : a designer or builder of engines

b : a person who is trained in or follows as a profession a branch of engineering

c : a person who carries through an enterprise by skillful or artful contrivance

4

: a person who runs or supervises an engine or an apparatus

Examples of ENGINEER

1. Design engineers are working on ways to make the cars run more efficiently.
2. The engineer stopped the train.
3. Army engineers were called in to construct the canal.

Origin of ENGINEER

Middle English engineour, from Anglo-French, from enginer to devise, construct, from engin

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ENGINEER

Synonyms

architect, mastermind

Related Words

builder, maker, producer; captain, commander, director, handler, leader, manager, quarterback; contriver, designer, formulator, originator, spawner; arranger, hatcher, organizer, planner, plotter, schemer; finagler, machinator, maneuverer; developer, generator, inaugurator, initiator, inspirer, instituter (or institutor), pioneer

Other Job Terms

factotum, milliner, ostler, scrivener, tinker, webster, wordsmith

Rhymes with ENGINEER

Agadir, atmosphere, auctioneer, balladeer, bandolier, bathysphere, bayadere, Bedfordshire, Bedivere, belvedere, bend one's ear, biosphere, bombardier, boutonniere, brigadier, buccaneer, budgeteer, Cambridgeshire, cameleer, cannoneer, canyoneer, cassimere, cavalier, chandelier, chanticleer, chevalier, chiffonier, chocolatier, chromosphere, commandeer, corsetiere, crystal clear, cuirassier, Derbyshire, diapir, disappear, domineer, ecosphere, Elzevir, exosphere, fallow deer, fictioneer, financier, fiscal year, fourdrinier, fusilier, gadgeteer, gasolier, gazetteer, ginger beer, Gloucestershire, gondolier, grenadier, Guinevere, hemisphere, Hertfordshire, Holy Year, inner ear, insincere, interfere, in the clear, jardiniere, junketeer, kerseymere, landing gear, lavaliere, marketeer, Meyerbeer, middle ear, missileer, mountaineer, muleteer, musketeer, mutineer, on one's ear, outer ear, overhear, overseer, oversteer, Oxfordshire, pamphleteer, persevere, photosphere, pioneer, pistoleer, privateer, profiteer, puppeteer, racketeer, rocketeer, running gear, scrutineer, sloganeer, sonneteer, souvenir, Staffordshire, steering gear, stratosphere, summiteer, swimmer's ear, thermosphere, troposphere, Tyne and Wear, understeer, vintage year, Vladimir, volunteer, Warwickshire, Windermere, yesteryear

²engineer

transitive verb

Definition of ENGINEER

1

: to lay out, construct, or manage as an engineer <engineer a bridge>

2

a : to contrive or plan out usually with more or less subtle skill and craft <engineer a business deal>

b : to guide the course of <engineer a rally>

3

: to modify or produce by genetic engineering <corn engineered to resist crop pests>

Examples of ENGINEER

1. The rebels engineered a successful attack.
2. <the mayor engineered an agreement to have a major league team play in our city>

First Known Use of ENGINEER

1843

Related to ENGINEER

Synonyms

contrive, finagle, finesse, frame, machinate, maneuver, manipulate, mastermind, negotiate, wangle

Related Words

arrange, concert, conclude, hammer out, work out; angle (for), compass, intrigue, plot, scheme; connive; brew, concoct, cook (up), hatch; captain, command, conduct, direct, handle, manage, quarterback, run; gerrymander

Near Antonyms

blow, bobble, botch, bungle, butcher, flub, fumble, gum (up), louse up, mangle, mess (up), mishandle, muff

See Synonym Discussion at guide

en·gi·neer

transitive verb \ˌen-jə-ˈni(ə)r\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ENGINEER

: to modify or produce by genetic engineering <insulin made by genetically engineered bacteria—Technical Survey>