engineering

American  

[en-juh-neer-ing] / ˌɛn dʒəˈnɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the art or science of making practical application of the knowledge of pure sciences, as physics or chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings, mines, ships, and chemical plants.

2. the action, work, or profession of an engineer.

3. Digital Technology. the art or process of designing and programming computer systems.

   computer engineering;

   software engineering.

4. skillful or artful contrivance; maneuvering.

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engineering British  

/ ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪərɪŋ /

noun

1. the profession of applying scientific principles to the design, construction, and maintenance of engines, cars, machines, etc ( mechanical engineering ), buildings, bridges, roads, etc ( civil engineering ), electrical machines and communication systems ( electrical engineering ), chemical plant and machinery ( chemical engineering ), or aircraft ( aeronautical engineering ) See also military engineering

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engineering Scientific  

/ ĕn′jə-nîr′ĭng /

1. The application of science to practical uses such as the design of structures, machines, and systems. Engineering has many specialities such as civil engineering, chemical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

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Other Word Forms

• nonengineering noun
• preengineering adjective

Etymology

Origin of engineering

First recorded in 1710–20; engineer + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Through genetic and genomic engineering, they developed a version of the bacteria capable of generating this drug.

From Science Daily

The target market for these tools is simply “anyone who needs to do work on their computer,” said Felix Rieseberg, the engineering lead for Cowork, Anthropic’s new feature designed for nontechnical tasks.

From The Wall Street Journal

The company said in a release that the event will focus on “how decades of engineering leadership and collaboration across hardware, software and systems is enabling more efficient, scalable, and intelligent computing platforms.”

From MarketWatch

A disposable diaper is a study in layered engineering.

From The Wall Street Journal

It doesn’t help that AI companies are engineering their products to make people think this way—and that some leaders even suggest there’s a chance AIs are already conscious.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• architecture
• design
• metallurgy
• planning