steam engine

noun

: an engine driven or worked by steam

specifically : a reciprocating engine having a piston driven in a closed cylinder by steam

Examples of steam engine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Railroads and steam engines allowed newspapers to travel great distances, solving one part of the distribution puzzle. — Aaron Glantz, Christian Science Monitor, 31 Oct. 2026

In 2017, Jim Belosic was building out what was once a Ford Model A—most famously produced in the late 1920s—to run on a steam engine. — Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026

The real winners after electrification were not the ones that just swapped steam engines for electric motors. — Sumeet Salwan, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Take a stroll around the steam engine at Locomotive Park, or hike the White Cliffs Wagon Wheels Trail for a slightly more challenging route. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

steam engine

noun

: an engine driven by steam