/ ˌendʒɪˈnɪə(r); NAmE -ˈnɪr/ noun , verb
■ noun
1.
a person whose job involves designing and building engines, machines, roads, bridges, etc.
—see also chemical engineer , civil engineer , electrical engineer , lighting engineer , mechanical engineer , software engineer , sound engineer
2.
a person who is trained to repair machines and electrical equipment :
They're sending an engineer to fix the phone.
3.
a person whose job is to control and repair engines, especially on a ship or an aircraft :
a flight engineer
the chief engineer on a cruise liner
4.
( NAmE ) = engine driver
5.
a soldier trained to design and build military structures
■ verb [ vn ]
1.
(often disapproving ) to arrange for sth to happen or take place, especially when this is done secretly in order to give yourself an advantage
SYN contrive :
She engineered a further meeting with him.
2.
[ usually passive ] to design and build sth :
The car is beautifully engineered and a pleasure to drive.
3.
to change the genetic structure of sth
SYN genetically modify :
genetically engineered crops
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English (denoting a designer and constructor of fortifications and weapons; formerly also as ingineer ): in early use from Old French engigneor , from medieval Latin ingeniator , from ingeniare contrive, devise, from Latin ingenium talent, device, from in- in + gignere beget; in later use from French ingénieur or Italian ingegnere , also based on Latin ingenium , with the ending influenced by -eer .