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

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Several times a day, the incessant din of diesel engines pauses while the mats are delicately removed and placed in outsize tubs for washing. Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025 These imposing machines are powered by 600-hp diesel engines, and feature a hydraulic load-handling system that can quickly load and unload 20-ft (6-m) containers and flat-rack engineering mission modules (for building or repairing bridges, for example). Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2025 Shop deals from compact models for everyday drivers to heavy-duty options for trucks and diesel engines. Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2025 It is powered by a fuel-efficient, high-torque V8 diesel engine, giving it a road range of up to 900 kilometers in new variants. Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diesel engine

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diesel engine was in 1894

Cite this Entry

“Diesel engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diesel%20engine. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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

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