turbine

[tur-bin, -bahyn]

See more synonyms for turbine on Thesaurus.com

noun

any of various machines having a rotor, usually with vanes or blades, driven by the pressure, momentum, or reactive thrust of a moving fluid, as steam, water, hot gases, or air, either occurring in the form of free jets or as a fluid passing through and entirely filling a housing around the rotor.

Compare impulse turbine, reaction turbine.

Origin of turbine

1815–25; < French < Latin turbin-, stem of turbō something that spins, e.g., top, spindle, whirlwind; akin to turbid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for turbine

cylinder, generator, transformer, turbine, tool, appliance, instrument, motor, weapon, diesel, mechanism, piston, apparatus, means, pot, fan, contrivance, agent, dynamo, barrel

Examples from the Web for turbine

Contemporary Examples of turbine

Unfortunately for Crist, it will likely take a turbine engine to generate enough wind in his flagging sails to overtake Rubio.
Charlie Crist's Last Gasp
Jim DeFede
October 20, 2010
Ninety four percent of all daily commerce takes place because diesel and turbine engines deliver the goods.
Get Over the Oil Spill
John Hofmeister
June 23, 2010

Historical Examples of turbine

Are they after some more of dad's inventions because they didn't get his turbine motor?
Tom Swift and his Motor-boat
Victor Appleton
And the boiler, of course, had emptied itself through the hole in the turbine.
All Day September
Roger Kuykendall
When the meteor pierced the turbine, the water in the condenser began to boil.
All Day September
Roger Kuykendall
This will considerably reduce the time the turbine requires to come to rest.
Steam Turbines
Hubert E. Collins
While the turbine is running, it should have a certain amount of careful attention.
Steam Turbines
Hubert E. Collins

British Dictionary definitions for turbine

turbine

noun

any of various types of machine in which the kinetic energy of a moving fluid is converted into mechanical energy by causing a bladed rotor to rotate. The moving fluid may be water, steam, air, or combustion products of a fuelSee also reaction turbine, impulse turbine, gas turbine

Word Origin for turbine

C19: from French, from Latin turbō whirlwind, from turbāre to throw into confusion

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for turbine

1838, from French turbine, from Latin turbinem (nominative turbo) "spinning top, eddy, whirlwind," related to turba "turmoil, crowd" (see turbid). Originally applied to a wheel spinning on a vertical axis, driven by falling water. Turbo in reference to gas turbine engines is attested from 1904. Turbocharger is from 1934. Aeronautic turboprop is attested from 1945, with second element short for propeller.

turbine in Science

turbine

[tûr′bĭn, -bīn′]

Any of various machines in which the kinetic energy of a moving fluid, such as water, steam, or gas, is converted to rotary motion. Turbines are used in boat propulsion systems, hydroelectric power generators, and jet aircraft engines. See also gas turbine.