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diesel engine
noun
: an internal combustion engine in which air is compressed to a temperature sufficiently high to ignite fuel injected into the cylinder where the combustion and expansion actuate a piston
Examples of diesel engine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Through the low rumble of the 78-foot boat’s diesel engine and the high whine of its winches, the mate, Hollis Nevells, listened to the conversation crackling over a wheelhouse radio.
—C.j. Chivers James Patrick Cronin Elena Hecht Anna Diamond Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 6 June 2024
That prototype is being built by Cummins, Inc., an Indiana diesel engine manufacturer that also is a partner in the project.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Apr. 2024
The first power outage occurred after a crew member mistakenly closed an exhaust damper while conducting maintenance, causing one of the ship’s diesel engines to stall, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board said in their preliminary report.
—Lea Skene, Fortune, 15 May 2024
But instead of the roar of a diesel engine, the cab filled with the gentle hum of an electric motor.
—Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for diesel engine
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'diesel engine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1894, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near diesel engine
Cite this Entry
“Diesel engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diesel%20engine. Accessed 18 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
diesel engine
noun
: an internal-combustion engine in which air is compressed to make enough heat to ignite the fuel in the cylinder
More from Merriam-Webster on diesel engine
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diesel engine
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