engineer

[en-juh-neer]

noun

1. a person trained and skilled in the design, construction, and use of engines or machines, or in any of various branches of engineering.

   a mechanical engineer; a civil engineer.

2. a person who operates or is in charge of an engine.

3. Also called locomotive engineer. Railroads.,  a person who operates or is in charge of a locomotive.

4. a member of an army, navy, or air force specially trained in engineering work.

5. Digital Technology.,  a person skilled in the design and programming of computer systems.

   a software engineer;

   a web engineer.

6. a skillful manager.

   a political engineer.

verb (used with object)

1. to plan, construct, or manage as an engineer.

   He's engineered several big industrial projects.

2. to design or create using the techniques or methods of engineering.

   The motor has been engineered to run noiselessly.

3. to arrange, manage, or carry through by skillful or artful contrivance.

   He certainly engineered the election campaign beautifully.

engineer

/ ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪə /

noun

1. a person trained in any branch of the profession of engineering

2. the originator or manager of a situation, system, etc

3. a mechanic; person who repairs or services machines

4. the driver of a railway locomotive

5. an officer responsible for a ship's engines

6. Informal name: sapper. a member of the armed forces, esp the army, trained in engineering and construction work

verb

1. to originate, cause, or plan in a clever or devious manner

   he engineered the minister's downfall

2. to design, plan, or construct as a professional engineer

Other Word Forms

• subengineer noun
• unengineered adjective
• well-engineered adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of engineer¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; engine + -eer; replacing Middle English engin(e)our, from Anglo-French engineor, Old French engigneor, from Medieval Latin ingeniātor, from ingeniā(re) “to design, devise” (derivative of ingenium “nature, innate quality, mental power, clever invention”; engine ) + Latin -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of engineer¹

C14: enginer, from Old French engigneor, from engignier to contrive, ultimately from Latin ingenium skill, talent; see _engine

Example Sentences

From 1714 onward, British, Dutch and Italian pioneers built early prototypes but couldn’t get the engineering right.

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Maintaining the durability of large dielectric films in dynamic outdoor conditions will also require further engineering.

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Plus, genetically engineered babies, antidepressant misconceptions and the first new malaria drug in years, in this issue of the WSJ Health newsletter.

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“I don’t foresee ever needing to hire another junior engineer again,” he said.

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When he landed at home in Austin, Texas, he had enthusiastic replies from a number of strangers, including a designer in Norway and an engineer in Spain who became part of his founding team.

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Related Words

• arrange 
• come up with 
• conceive 
• concoct 
• create 
• direct 
• manage 
• manipulate 
• negotiate 
• organize 
• set up 
• supervise