ENGINE

engine

(noun) motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work

engine

(noun) an instrument or machine that is used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult, artillery piece, etc.; “medieval engines of war”

locomotive, engine, locomotive engine, railway locomotive

(noun) a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks

engine

(noun) something used to achieve a purpose; “an engine of change”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

engine (plural engines)

A large construction used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult etc. [from 14th c.]

(now, archaic) A tool; a utensil or implement. [from 14th c.]

A complex mechanical device which converts energy into useful motion or physical effects. [from 16th c.]

A person or group of people which influence a larger group; a driving force. [from 16th c.]

The part of a car or other vehicle which provides the force for motion, now especially one powered by internal combustion. [from 19th c.]

A self-powered vehicle, especially a locomotive, used for pulling cars along a track. [from 19th c.]

(computing) A software or hardware system responsible for a specific technical task (usually with qualifying word). [from 20th c.]

(obsolete) Ingenuity; cunning, trickery, guile. [13th-17th c.]

(obsolete) The result of cunning; something ingenious, a contrivance; (in negative senses) a plot, a scheme. [13th-18th c.]

(obsolete) Natural talent; genius. [14th-17th c.]

Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent.

Synonyms

• motor

• locomotive

Verb

engine (third-person singular simple present engines, present participle engining, simple past and past participle engined)

(transitive, dated) To equip with an engine; said especially of steam vessels.

(transitive, obsolete) To assault with an engine.

• T. Adams.

(transitive, obsolete) To contrive; to put into action.

(transitive, obsolete) To rack; to torture.

Anagrams

• ginnee

Source: Wiktionary

En"gine, n. Etym: [F. engin skill, machine, engine, L. ingenium natural capacity, invention; in in + the root of gignere to produce. See Genius, and cf. Ingenious, Gin a snare.]

1. (Pronounced, in this sense, [Obs.] A man hath sapiences three, Memory, engine, and intellect also. Chaucer.

2. Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent. Shak. You see the ways the fisherman doth take To catch the fish; what engines doth he make Bunyan. Their promises, enticements, oaths, tokens, and all these engines of lust. Shak.

3. Any instrument by which any effect is produced; especially, an instrument or machine of war or torture. "Terrible engines of death." Sir W. Raleigh.

4. (Mach.)

Definition: A compound machine by which any physical power is applied to produce a given physical effect. Engine driver, one who manages an engine; specifically, the engineer of a locomotive.

– Engine lathe. (Mach.) See under Lathe.

– Engine tool, a machine tool. J. Whitworth.

– Engine turning (Fine Arts), a method of ornamentation by means of a rose engine.

Note: The term engine is more commonly applied to massive machines, or to those giving power, or which produce some difficult result. Engines, as motors, are distinguished according to the source of power, as steam engine, air engine, electro-magnetic engine; or the purpose on account of which the power is applied, as fire engine, pumping engine, locomotive engine; or some peculiarity of construction or operation, as single-acting or double-acting engine, high-pressure or low-pressure engine, condensing engine, etc.

En"gine, v. t.

1. To assault with an engine. [Obs.] To engine and batter our walls. T. Adams.

2. To equip with an engine; -- said especially of steam vessels; as, vessels are often built by one firm and engined by another.

3. (Pronounced, in this sense, [Obs.] Chaucer.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

ENGINE

Etymology

Noun

Synonyms

Verb

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