Definition of engine
2a : something used to effect a purpose : agent, instrument mournful and terrible engine of horror and of crime — E. A. Poeb : something that produces a particular and usually desirable result engines of economic growth
3a : a mechanical tool: such as (1) : an instrument or machine of war (2) obsolete : a torture implementb : machineryc : 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
engineless
adjectiveExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of engine in a Sentence
The car has a four-cylinder engine.
tanks, planes, and other engines of war
The tax cut could be an engine of economic growth.
Origin and Etymology of engine
Middle English engin, from Anglo-French, from Latin ingenium natural disposition, talent, from in- + gignere to beget — more at kin
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Mechanical Engineering Terms
engine
Definition of engine
engined
;engining
transitive verb
: to equip with engines
1841
First Known Use of engine
1841
ENGINE Defined for English Language Learners
engine
playDefinition of engine for English Language Learners
-
: a machine that changes energy (such as heat from burning fuel) into mechanical motion
-
: the vehicle that pulls a train
-
: something that is used for a particular purpose
ENGINE Defined for Kids
engine
playDefinition of engine for Students
1 : a mechanical tool or device tanks, planes, and other engines of war
2 : a machine for driving or operating something especially by using the energy of steam, gasoline, or oil
3 : locomotive
History for engine
The English word engine came from the Latin word ingenium, meaning “natural talent.” At first the word engine meant “skill” or “cleverness.” In time the word came to be used for things that are products of human skills and cleverness—tools and machines, for example.
Learn More about engine
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for engine Spanish Central: Translation of engine Nglish: Translation of engine for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of engine for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up engine? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!