turbine

American  

[tur-bin, -bahyn] / ˈtɜr bɪn, -baɪn /

noun

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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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

The margin squeeze does not resolve until new generation capacity comes online — which, given gas turbine lead times now running up to seven years, is not soon.

From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026

And it has invested heavily in companies that supply infrastructure for data centers, including turbine maker GE Vernova GEV 0.23%increase; green up pointing triangle and power producer Vistra.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

On the night of the world's worst nuclear accident, he was working as a turbine mechanic in unit number two, a few hundred metres from reactor number four, which exploded during a safety test.

From Barron's • Apr. 25, 2026

Nikolai, the turbine engineer, was married with two sons at the time of the accident.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Water swamped the turbine buildings on the ocean side of the reactors, and climbed 18 feet—about two stories—up the outsides of units 1 through 4.

From "Meltdown" by Deirdre Langeland

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