turbine

1 of 3

noun (1)

tur·​bine ˈtər-bən  -ˌbīn 

: a rotary engine actuated by the reaction or impulse or both of a current of fluid (such as water, steam, or air) subject to pressure and usually made with a series of curved vanes on a central rotating spindle

turbo

2 of 3

noun (2)

tur·​bo ˈtər-(ˌ)bō 

plural turbos

1

: turbine

2

[by shortening] : turbocharger

turbo-

3 of 3

combining form

1

: coupled directly to a driving turbine

turbofan

2

: consisting of or incorporating a turbine

turbojet engine

Did you know?

The oldest and simplest form of turbine is the waterwheel, which is made to rotate by water falling across its blades and into buckets suspended from them. Hero of Alexandria invented the first steam-driven turbine in the 1st century A.D., but a commercially practical steam turbine wasn't developed until 1884; steam turbines are now the main elements of electric power stations. Jet engines are gas turbines. A turbojet engine uses a turbine to compress the incoming air that feeds the engine before being ejected to push the plane forward; a turboprop engine uses its exhaust to drive a turbine that spins a propeller. A wind turbine generates electricity by being turned by the wind; the largest now have vanes with a turning diameter of over 400 feet.

Examples of turbine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Over the last decade, GE Aerospace has upgraded the GEnx engine’s high-pressure turbine blades and combustor coating technology, more than doubling time on wing in harsh environments, as per the release. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 19 July 2026

In May, Elon Musk reportedly spent at least $1 billion to buy an energy company with a fleet of combustion turbines, likely to power his AI model, Grok. — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026

Noun

This robot vacuum sports 15,000 PA turbo suction that can clean up all kinds of debris, including pet hair, dust, and dander from both carpets and hard floors, leaving your floors spotless. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026

Meanwhile, turbo noise fills the cabin alongside the odd electric motor whine. — Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

French, from Latin turbin-, turbo top, whirlwind, whirl, from turba confusion — more at turbid

Noun (2)

turbo-

Combining form

turbine

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1842, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1904, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing turbine

• gas turbine
• steam turbine
• wind turbine

Kids Definition

turbine

noun

tur·​bine ˈtər-bən 

-ˌbīn

: an engine whose central driving shaft is fitted with a series of blades spun around by the pressure of a fluid (as water, steam, or air)

Etymology

Noun

from French turbine "turbine," from Latin turbin-, turbo "top (for spinning), whirlwind"