engineer
[en-juh-neer]
- 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.
- a person who operates or is in charge of an engine.
- Also called locomotive engineer. Railroads. a person who operates or is in charge of a locomotive.
- a member of an army, navy, or air force specially trained in engineering work.
- Digital Technology. a person skilled in the design and programming of computer systems: a software engineer; a web engineer.
- a skillful manager: a political engineer.
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- to plan, construct, or manage as an engineer: He's engineered several big industrial projects.
- to design or create using the techniques or methods of engineering: The motor has been engineered to run noiselessly.
- to arrange, manage, or carry through by skillful or artful contrivance: He certainly engineered the election campaign beautifully.
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Origin of engineer
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
designerbuilderdirectorsurveyormanagerplannerarchitectinventororganizeconcoctcreatemanagenegotiatedirectsuperviseconceivemanipulatearrangeoriginatorschemerExamples from the Web for engineer
Contemporary Examples
When engineer Williams first heard the song, it reminded him of hit songs by Johnny “Guitar” Watson.
‘The Prince of Chocolate City’: When Gil Scott-Heron Became A Music IconMarcus Baram
November 15, 2014
To take an “Asian” job like engineer, scientist, programmer.
They had a very South American mentality where you had to have a very dependable job—a doctor or a lawyer or an engineer.
Maria “Macarena” Paz, a Caracas engineer, is underwhelmed by this explanation.
A third engineer I talked to called the alloys “unobtainium.”
Historical Examples
"It was providential, your seeing the rock," he said to the engineer.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
So Bill Nevins, my engineer, who was workin' the h'ister, and I went up.
The UnderdogF. Hopkinson Smith
In his work as engineer he had had occasion to study up Morse in heliographing.
The Cruise of the Dry DockT. S. Stribling
The room was not at all what one might expect of an engineer's study.
Alexander's Bridge and The Barrel OrganWilla Cather and Alfred Noyes
The engineer knows best what tools to use in strengthening his own machine.
The Stark Munro LettersJ. Stark Munro
engineer
- a person trained in any branch of the profession of engineering
- the originator or manager of a situation, system, etc
- a mechanic; person who repairs or services machines
- US and Canadian the driver of a railway locomotive
- an officer responsible for a ship's engines
- Informal name: sapper a member of the armed forces, esp the army, trained in engineering and construction work
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- to originate, cause, or plan in a clever or devious mannerhe engineered the minister's downfall
- to design, plan, or construct as a professional engineer
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Word Origin
C14: enginer, from Old French engigneor, from engignier to contrive, ultimately from Latin ingenium skill, talent; see engine
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for engineer
n.
early 14c., "constructor of military engines," from Old French engigneor, from Late Latin ingeniare (see engine); general sense of "inventor, designer" is recorded from early 15c.; civil sense, in reference to public works, is recorded from c.1600. Meaning "locomotive driver" is first attested 1832, American English. A "maker of engines" in ancient Greece was a mekhanopoios.
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v.
1843 (but cf. engineering), from engineer (n.). Figurative sense of "arrange, contrive" is attested from 1864, originally in a political context. Related: Engineered.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper