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.

---

jet engine British  

noun

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

---

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.

---

Etymology

Origin of jet engine

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

For one, if even more jet engine parts get diverted to produce power turbines, that could worsen the shortage in the jet-engine market, which is already very tight.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

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

From Salon • Dec. 28, 2025

The Symphony turbine jet engine will power Boom’s Overture supersonic jet.

From Barron's • Dec. 11, 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