engine

1 of 2

noun

en·​gine ˈen-jən How to pronounce engine (audio)
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
3
a
: something used to effect a purpose : agent, instrument
mournful and terrible engine of horror and of crimeE. A. Poe
b
: something that produces a particular and usually desirable result
engines of economic growth
4
a
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
b
: evil contrivance : wile
engineless adjective

engine

2 of 2

verb

engined; engining

transitive verb

: to equip with engines

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
In fact, having your own set of wheels was wildly popular even if there was no engine involved: Riding a bike (or skateboard, or scooter) got 71 percent support. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 15 Mar. 2024 Last April, Starship made it off the launchpad, but a cascade of engine failures and fires in the booster led to the rocket’s destruction 24 miles above the Gulf of Mexico. Kenneth Chang, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Still, that was a marked improvement over the previous Starship test flight on April 20 in which several of the spacecraft's engines failed and exploded about four minutes after its launch before booster and spacecraft were able to even separate. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 14 Mar. 2024 Stacked on top of a Super Heavy booster, the Starship rocket lifted off flawlessly at 6:25 a.m. PDT from the company’s Boca Chica, Texas, launchpad, with all 33 of the booster’s engines igniting and propelling Starship into space. Laurence Darmiento, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, in February, the Federal Aviation Administration flagged safety issues with engine anti-ice systems on the 737 Max and larger 787 Dreamliner. Angus Watson, CNN, 13 Mar. 2024 According to the Associated Press and CNN, the pilot had shared that the aircraft had engine failure in an emergency call to John C. Tune Airport in Nashville at around 7:40 p.m. local time. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 7 Mar. 2024 At the time, downtown Phoenix was devoid of nearly any entertainment options and local leaders saw the stadium as a possible engine for economic growth in the area. Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 To your left, an engine hums and a man’s face is lit from the glow of his phone as he doom-scrolls in the driver’s seat until his order is up. Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
It’s powered by a Ukrainian Al-25T turbofan by Motor Sich, and will supposedly be followed in development by two supersonic B and C models (the latter twin-engined), which will make use of an afterburning Al-322 engine. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 30 Mar. 2023 So much has changed over the past decade or so, from the size and shape of the cars to engine technology and the use of smaller sensors. Joel Shapiro, Forbes, 26 Jan. 2023 Is there any benefit to directing the executive who oversees engine procurement to procure electricity as well? Marc Levinson, WSJ, 28 July 2022 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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'engine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English engin, from Anglo-French, from Latin ingenium natural disposition, talent, from in- + gignere to beget — more at kin

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 6a

Verb

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of engine was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near engine

Cite this Entry

“Engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engine. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

engine

noun
en·​gine
ˈen-jən
1
: a mechanical device
2
: a machine that changes energy (as heat from burning fuel) into mechanical motion
3
: a railroad locomotive
Etymology

Noun

Middle English engin "natural talent or skill, mechanical device," from early French engin (same meaning), from Latin ingenium "natural ability or desire to do something," from in "in" and -genium, from gignere "to father, beget" — related to genius, gin entry 1, ingenious

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