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

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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

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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

“Building a gas turbine is freaking hard, but if you can do it well, naturally it can be a gigantic business,” Susan said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 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

It contained its own complete production line, including a drying turbine -- but wasn't as big as another recently dismantled facility that employed some 50 people.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

Amelia Earhart nearly lost her raccoon coat to a wind tunnel’s giant turbine while touring the lab.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

The centre, according to the documents, would include five gas turbines, a steam generator, and another two gas turbines on standby.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Planning documents for an outline planning application detail a "temporary ancillary energy centre" with gas turbines that have a maximum generating capacity of 49.9MW.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

Venture Global said it has entered into agreements with GE Vernova and Baker Hughes Energy Services to procure equipment for on-site power plants, including turbines and transformers, which have been in high demand.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

“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

Giant waterwheels and turbines churn along the water's edge behind veils of smoke.

From "Legend" by Marie Lu

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