English Explanatory Dictionary

engine

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A large construction used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult etc.
  2. A tool; a utensil or implement.
  3. A complex mechanical device which converts energy into useful motion or physical effects.
  4. A person or group of people which influence a larger group; a driving force.
  5. The part of a car or other vehicle which provides the force for motion, now especially one powered by internal combustion.
  6. A self-powered vehicle used for moving cars along a track.
  7. A locomotive.
  8. A software or hardware system responsible for a specific technical task (usually with qualifying word).
  9. Ingenuity; cunning, trickery, guile.
  10. The result of cunning; something ingenious, a contrivance; (in negative senses) a plot, a scheme.
  11. Natural talent; genius.
  12. Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent.
verb
  1. To equip with an engine; said especially of steam vessels.
  2. To assault with an engine.
  3. To contrive; to put into action.

Pronunciation

/ˈɛnd͡ʒɪn/ en-us-engine.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Wodencafe-engine.wav /ˈɪnd͡ʒɪn/ /ˈɛnd͡ʒən/ /ˈend͡ʒɪn/ /ˈend͡ʒən/ /ˈend͡ʒɘn/ /ˈɪndʒᵻn/ /ɪnˈdʒiːn/

Word forms

engine engines engining engined

Etymology

From Middle English engyn, from Anglo-Norman engine, Old French engin (“skill, cleverness, war machine”), from Latin ingenium (“innate or natural quality, nature, genius, a genius, an invention, (in Late Latin) a war-engine, battering-ram”), related to ingignō (“to instil by birth, implant, produce in”). Compare gin, ingenious, engineer.

Synonyms

motor locomotive drive

Related words

engineer genius ingeniosity ingenious

Derived words

bank engine bullgine Carnot engine Carnot heat engine crane engine duplex pumping engine engine bay engine block engine braking engine cleaner engine compartment engine diaper engine displacement engine driver engineer engine generator engine-generator engine hour engine house engine knock engine lathe engineless enginelike engineman engine mount engine move engine oil engine order telegraph enginer engine-rich engine room enginery engine shed engine trouble engine-turned engine turning in-engine inline engine Lenoir engine microengine midengine multiengine Novi engine one engine in steam re-engine reengine retro-engine retroengine search-engine-friendly search engine optimization siege-engine stellar engine V engine
This entry uses open data from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA/GFDL). Word forms are used for search and are not indexed as separate pages.
Back to search All on E Russian dictionary Dahl dictionary