Main Entry:

¹en·gine

Pronunciation:

\ˈen-jən\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

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

Date:

13th century

1obsolete a: ingenuity b: evil contrivance : wile2 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 locomotive6: computer software that performs a fundamental function especially of a larger program

— en·gine·less adjective