ENGINE


Meaning of ENGINE in English

n.

Pronunciation: ' en-j ə n

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English engin, from Anglo-French, from Latin ingenium natural disposition, talent, from in- + gignere to beget ― more at KIN

Date: 13th century

1 obsolete a : INGENUITY b : evil contrivance : WILE

2 a : something used to effect a purpose : AGENT , INSTRUMENT <mournful and terrible engine of horror and of crime ― E. A. Poe> b : something that produces a particular and usually desirable result < engine s of economic growth>

3 a : a mechanical tool: as (1) : an instrument or machine of war (2) obsolete : a torture implement b : MACHINERY c : any of various mechanical appliances ― often used in combination <fire engine >

4 : a machine for converting any of various forms of energy into mechanical force and motion also : a mechanism or object that serves as an energy source <black holes may be the engine s for quasars>

5 : a railroad locomotive

6 : computer software that performs a fundamental function especially of a larger program

– en · gine · less adjective

Merriam Webster Collegiate English Dictionary.      Merriam Webster - Энциклопедический словарь английского языка.