radial engine

American  

noun

Aeronautics.

1. an internal-combustion engine having the cylinders arranged in radial opposition, found mainly on older aircraft.

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radial engine British  

noun

1. an internal-combustion engine having a number of cylinders arranged about a central crankcase

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Etymology

Origin of radial engine

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

radial engine

Its big radial engine is cowled to cut its head resistance to the irreducible minimum.

From Time Magazine Archive

The great handicap of the radial engine is that its spreading cylinders create wind resistance and so slow an airplane's speed.

From Time Magazine Archive

Republic makes the only U.S. pursuit ship that uses an air-cooled radial engine.

From Time Magazine Archive

The tail propellers were reduced to one, a seven-cylinder Warner radial engine was installed, the body was decently covered, slicked with windshield and windows.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was a yellow two-seater with a 450-horsepower radial engine, a low wing, and retractable landing gear.

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