engine

American  

[en-juhn] / ˈɛn dʒən /

noun

• engines
  plural

1. a machine for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy or power to produce force and motion.

2. a railroad locomotive.

3. a fire engine.

4. Computers. a piece or collection of software that drives a later process (used in combination, as in ).

5. any mechanical contrivance.

6. a machine or instrument used in warfare, as a battering ram, catapult, or piece of artillery.

7. a means by which something is achieved, accomplished, or furthered.

   Trade is an engine of growth that creates jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity.

8. Obsolete. an instrument of torture, especially the rack.

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engine British  

/ ˈɛndʒɪn /

noun

1. any machine designed to convert energy, esp heat energy, into mechanical work

   a steam engine

   a petrol engine

2. 1. a railway locomotive

   2. ( as modifier )

      the engine cab

3. military any of various pieces of equipment formerly used in warfare, such as a battering ram or gun

4. obsolete any instrument or device

   engines of torture

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engine Scientific  

/ ĕn′jĭn /

1. A machine that turns energy into mechanical force or motion, especially one that gets its energy from a source of heat, such as the burning of a fuel. The efficiency of an engine is the ratio between the kinetic energy produced by the machine and the energy needed to produce it.

2. See more at internal-combustion engine steam engine See also motor

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• multiengine
  noun
• engineless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• engines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of engine

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English engin, from Anglo-French, Old French engign, enging, from Latin ingenium “nature, innate quality, mental power, clever invention,” equivalent to in- “in” + -genium (equivalent to gen- “begetting” + -ium noun suffix); see in- ², kin, -ium

Explanation

An engine is a machine that burns fuel to make something move. The engine in a car is the motor that makes it go. Engines power vehicles including cars, trains, airplanes, and boats. While these engines tend to be powered by fuel that's burned, other engines get their power from electricity, which they convert to mechanical energy — fans, power tools, and small appliances all commonly have electric engines. Figuratively, you can also use the word engine to mean "something that's used to bring about a specific result." In your state, for example, tourism might be the main engine of job growth.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

engine engines

Despite Raising Cane’s measured approach, the real engine of its recent success may be outside the restaurant entirely.

From Slate ● Aug. 24, 2026

"From my point of view, this is an industrial revolution, almost like the introduction of engines or, back then, the steam engine," he said.

From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026

Then comes a bevy of scientific instruments, a small nuclear engine, and shiny orange foam to keep the instruments warm in space.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

Regulators received nearly 500 complaints of engine failures in vehicles already serviced under an earlier recall.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

It is believed that this accident is the first such between horse-drawn vehicle and internal combustion engine in the twentieth century here in the Hoosier heartland.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

More than 900 firefighters were tackling the blaze, using fire engines, helicopters and bulldozers, in an effort to clear the tinder-dry brush.

From Barron's ● Aug. 24, 2026

Its engines guided the upright vehicle to the water, according to SpaceX video.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

That will reduce - but not eliminate - the energy starvation suffered by the engines, and as a consequence make driving the cars feel more enjoyable.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

But Audi and Mercedes, for example, would prefer the engines to be turbocharged.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

She and Brightbill would climb in, fire up the engines, and be home in no time at all.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

Related Words

• appliance
• diesel
• generator
• instrument
• motor
• power plant
• tool
• transformer
• turbine
• weapon