jet engine

American  

noun

1. an engine, as an aircraft engine, that produces forward motion by the rearward exhaust of a jet of fluid or heated air and gases.

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jet engine British  

noun

1. a gas turbine, esp one fitted to an aircraft

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jet engine Scientific  

1. An engine, generally a gas turbine, that develops thrust from a jet of hot gases produced by burning fuel in a combustion chamber.

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Etymology

Origin of jet engine

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jet engine

Even jet engine makers are retooling to make gas-powered generators for AI, as the Journal has reported.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Reaching Mach 5 involves the use of a so-called ramjet, which is similar to a traditional jet engine but doesn’t have any moving parts.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2026

If a data center wants to roar like a jet engine all night, that’s the deal.

From Salon ● Dec. 28, 2025

It consists of a large jet engine placed on top of a tube the length of a London bus.

From BBC ● Dec. 17, 2025

With a jet engine there is no torque, so your feet are not nearly as busy and you can concentrate on other things.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins