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• steam engine
  steam engine

  noun

  an engine worked by steam, typically one in which a sliding piston in a cylinder is moved by the expansive action of the steam generated in a boiler.
• steam-engine
  steam-engine

  noun

  an engine that uses the thermal energy of steam to produce mechanical work, esp one in which steam from a boiler is expanded in a cylinder to drive a reciprocating piston

steam engine

American  

noun

1. an engine worked by steam, typically one in which a sliding piston in a cylinder is moved by the expansive action of the steam generated in a boiler.

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steam-engine British  

noun

1. an engine that uses the thermal energy of steam to produce mechanical work, esp one in which steam from a boiler is expanded in a cylinder to drive a reciprocating piston

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steam engine Scientific  

1. An engine in which the energy of hot steam is converted into mechanical power, especially an engine in which the force of expanding steam is used to drive one or more pistons. The source of the steam is typically external to the part of the machine that converts the steam energy into mechanical energy.

2. Compare internal-combustion engine

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• steam-engine
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of steam engine

First recorded in 1745–55

Example Sentences

The steam engine, assembly line and personal computer displaced jobs while giving life to industries no committee could foresee.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

Brown is one in a long line of entrepreneurs who saw the high-growth potential of innovations like the steam engine, manned flight, computers, and artificial intelligence—and took a financial leap to make it happen.

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

He highlighted an example from history - James Watt is synonymous with the steam engine, even though he improved it rather than invented it.

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2025

Once they arrived, inventions like the steam engine and indoor plumbing likely helped the insects travel further and get cozy living indoors, where they are most commonly found today.

From Seattle Times • May 20, 2024

In the twenty years between 1687 and 1707 he worked towards the construction of a viable steam engine, but in the end he failed.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton