engine

noun

en·gine | \ ˈen-jən

Definition of engine

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : 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

2 : a railroad locomotive

3a : 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

4a : machinery

b : any of various mechanical appliances —often used in combination fire engine

c : a mechanical tool: such as

(1) : an instrument or machine of war

(2) obsolete : a torture implement

5 : computer software that performs a fundamental function especially of a larger program

6 obsolete

a : ingenuity

b : evil contrivance : wile

engine

verb

engined; engining

Definition of engine (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to equip with engines

Other Words from engine Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing engine Learn More About engine

Examples of engine in a Sentence

Noun The car has a four-cylinder engine. tanks, planes, and other engines of war The tax cut could be an engine of economic growth.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun At this point, the Montero was powered by a 215-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine and a five-speed automatic transmission, and its four-wheel-drive system featured a transfer case with a low range. — Joey Capparella, Car and Driver, 2 May 2022 Initially, Lampredi’s 3.3-liter engine powered two cars entered in the 1950 Mille Miglia. — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 2 May 2022 The same could be said of the 1.6-liter turbo engine in the hybrid model, which provides a total of 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque with its synchronous electric motor lending a hand. — Karl Brauer, Forbes, 2 May 2022 Last September, the Air Force tested the Raytheon HAWC, powered by a Northrop Grumman scramjet engine. — Oren Liebermann, CNN, 4 Apr. 2022 Made from a lightweight space frame with fiberglass body panels, the 917 was powered by a 4.5 L flat-12 engine that generated 520 hp (388 kW). — Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 24 Mar. 2022 As deputy fire marshal, he was thrown from his buggy, run over by an engine, and died of his injuries in 1887. — Ron Grossman, chicagotribune.com, 24 Feb. 2022 Inspired by this personal-recommendation engine, the newsletter, Service95, will also focus on new musicians, artists and designers and feature updates from around the world. — Alan Light, WSJ, 25 Jan. 2022 Set on the same platform as the Porsche Panamera and driven by a V6 engine and an electric motor and 18.9kWh battery system, the Flying Spur Hybrid wrings every last mile from this combo to achieve a total driving range in excess of 450 miles. — Fortune, 22 Jan. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Vehicle telematics works by simply installing a device with a SIM card that allows remotely acquiring vehicle information like location, speed, tire pressure, and engine idle in real-time, faster and more accurately than ever before. — Ekim Saribardak, Forbes, 12 Nov. 2021 Every decision during a race, from timing a pit stop and choosing the tires to engine settings and brake balance, is grounded in granular data. — Luc Hennekens, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2021 From crying babies to engine turbines, the earbuds provided smooth listening and drowned out all distractions. — Nina Huang, EW.com, 23 Aug. 2021 Boeing and Airbus have often timed all-new aircraft to engine technology that provides a step-change in efficiency, such as the GEnx turbofans that made Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner twin-aisle greener and quieter than its predecessors. — BostonGlobe.com, 14 June 2021 Changes to the truck, from chassis to body to engine to interior, reflect consumer needs, requests and complaints. — Tribune News Service, cleveland, 2 Jan. 2021 Changes to the truck, from chassis to body to engine to interior, reflect consumer needs, requests and complaints. — Tribune News Service, cleveland, 2 Jan. 2021 Changes to the truck, from chassis to body to engine to interior, reflect consumer needs, requests and complaints. — Tribune News Service, cleveland, 2 Jan. 2021 Changes to the truck, from chassis to body to engine to interior, reflect consumer needs, requests and complaints. — Tribune News Service, cleveland, 2 Jan. 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'engine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.