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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
The car aficionado and star of Jay Leno's Garage was working on a steam engine underneath a car in his garage when the blaze broke out.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 19 Nov. 2024
This is akin to the ancient Greeks inventing the steam engine and using it only as a children's toy.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Most delegates took a break to go observe the novelty of a working steam engine.
—Andrei Iancu, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2024
Ethical Implications Like other transformative technologies throughout history, from the printing press to the steam engine, AI will have a significant impact on people and their lives.
—Brian Neely, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1751, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near steam engine
Cite this Entry
“Steam engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steam%20engine. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
steam engine
noun
: an engine driven by steam
More from Merriam-Webster on steam engine
Nglish: Translation of steam engine for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about steam engine
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