gas engine

American  

noun

1. an internal-combustion engine driven by a mixture of air and gas.

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gas engine British  

noun

1. a type of internal-combustion engine using a flammable gas, such as coal gas or natural gas, as fuel

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Etymology

Origin of gas engine

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Unless you stomp on the accelerator, it initially moves out on electric power and the gas engine soon joins in, sending a subtle, snoozy tremor through the structure.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke about his state's leadership on climate policies, including a ban on the sale of new gas engine vehicles by 2035.

From Reuters • Sep. 20, 2023

Some environmentalists don’t like PHEVs because they’re not pure electric drive and people don’t always charge up, instead relying more heavily on the gas engine.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 16, 2023

Toyota has long been a leader in hybrids, which switch back and forth between an electric motor and gas engine to deliver higher mileage.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 31, 2023

The first cameras, typewriters, and television sets were as awful as Otto’s seven-foot-tall gas engine.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond