ENGINE


Meaning of ENGINE in English

I. ˈenjə̇n noun

( -s )

Etymology: Middle English engin, from Old French, skill, trick mechanical contrivance, from Latin ingenium natural capacity, natural disposition, from in + -genium (akin to Latin gignere to beget) — more at kin

1. obsolete

a. : natural capacity : ability , skill

b. : ingenuity or an instance or product of it ; often : cunning or evil contrivance : artifice , wile

all the engines of her wit — Edmund Spenser

2. archaic : something that is used to effect a purpose : agent , means , method

all these engines of lust — Shakespeare

3.

a. : a mechanical contrivance or tool: as

(1) : an instrument or machine of war

(2) obsolete : a torture implement ; especially : rack

(3) obsolete : a net, trap, or similar device

(4) obsolete : machine 1e

b. : machinery , apparatus

c. : any of various mechanical appliances — often used in combination; see fire engine , rose engine , ruling engine

4. : a machine for converting energy (in such forms as heat, chemical energy, nuclear energy, radiation energy, and the potential energy of elevated water) into mechanical force and motion

5. : a railroad locomotive

6. : engine company

Synonyms: see machine

II. transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

Etymology: Middle English enginen to contrive, deceive, from Old French engignier. from engin

1. obsolete : contrive , plan

2.

[ engine (I) ]

: to equip with an engine

such planes were not engined for high-altitude combat

a 4- engined bomber

III. noun

1. : a mechanism or object that serves as an energy source

the best candidate for the central engine of quasars is a black hole — M.J.Rees

2. : computer software that performs one or more fundamental functions especially of a larger program

a database engine

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.