turbine

American  

[tur-bin, -bahyn] / ˈtɜr bɪn, -baɪn /

noun

• turbines
  plural

1. 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.

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turbine British  

/ ˈtɜːbɪn, -baɪn /

noun

1. 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 fuel See also reaction turbine impulse turbine gas turbine

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turbine Scientific  

/ tûr′bĭn,-bīn′ /

1. 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.

2. See also gas turbine

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• turbines
  plural

Etymology

Origin of turbine

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

Explanation

A turbine is a device used to generate energy as a flowing liquid causes a bladed rotor to move around. A water wheel is a turbine. There are many ways we get energy, such as fossil fuels and solar power. Another is a gadget called a turbine. A turbine uses the power of water (or another liquid) to move a wheel, generating energy. A windmill is also an example of a turbine, though it uses wind instead of liquid. Other turbines use gas or steam to generate energy. Ever since the 1800s, engineers have used many sorts of turbines to help satisfy our ever-increasing energy needs.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

turbine turbines

“There are only a few companies globally capable of producing engine parts for the ‘hot section’ of a gas turbine used to create electricity.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

This is a secondary combustion system that injects raw fuel directly into a jet engine's exhaust stream behind the turbine, which gives the jet a big short-term boost in thrust.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Elon Musk’s plan to manufacture gas turbine blades is just the latest example of SpaceX’s disruptive approach to business.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

In Frankfurt, the German DAX gained 0.3%, with Siemens Energy rising 1.8% after a Bloomberg report said the group might sell part of its steam turbine business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

The steam is used to turn a turbine, which generates electricity.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

“By modernizing and upgrading turbines, steam generators, and digital control systems at operating plants, uprates deliver substantial capacity gains without the multi-year timelines or interconnection bottlenecks associated with greenfield construction,” the blog post noted.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

The procurement of seven gas turbines totaling 5.25GW also positions YTL for power-generation growth and supports its expanding data-center pipeline, he reckons.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

The factory, which will make components for off-shore wind turbines, is to be run by engineering firm Subsea Micropiles following a £5m investment.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

The firm's new facility is expected to make parts for wind turbines in Scottish waters, and for international markets.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

The deafening whine of the turbines made conversation out of the question.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

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