engine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
  2. noun something used to achieve a purpose
    • an engine of change
  3. noun a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
    locomotive; railway locomotive; locomotive engine.
  4. noun an instrument or machine that is used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult, artillery piece, etc.
    • medieval engines of war

WordNet

En"gine noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  1. (Pronounced, in this sense, .) Natural capacity; ability; skill. 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.) A compound machine by which any physical power is applied to produce a given physical effect. ✍ 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 transitive verb
Definitions
  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, .) To rack; to torture. Obs. Chaucer.

Webster 1913