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

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

The jet engine maker reports External link fourth-quarter results Thursday morning.

From Barron's • Jan. 21, 2026

These toxic chemicals are present in today’s modern synthetic jet engine oils and are passing into the aircraft cabin/cockpit unfiltered, affecting the air that crew and passengers breathe in.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 14, 2025

More developments are in the pipeline, including a new type of jet engine, developed by Rolls Royce, called the “UltraFan”, which will reduce average fuel consumption by 10%.

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2024

Leaves rustling in the wind are about 10 decibels; a jet engine is about 120 decibels.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones