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

The 62-year-old engineer must now integrate a vast empire that stretches into new areas where he lacks expertise.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“We’ve become a little bit of a detective agency,” said Andrea Moore, a director of access construction and engineering at AT&T.

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When not at sea, most American sailors relax or hold landside second jobs that tap their knowledge of machinery and engineering.

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"This makes it clear that Floquet engineering actually works in these systems -- and the potential of this discovery is huge."

Read more on Science Daily

From the 1960s through the late ’90s, spurred by the ready availability of cheap, calorie-dense food—engineered to be irresistible and offered in ever-larger portions—adult obesity rates in the U.S. more than doubled.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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