ENGINE


Meaning of ENGINE in English

— engineless , adj.

/en"jeuhn/ , n.

1. a machine for converting thermal energy into mechanical energy or power to produce force and motion.

2. a railroad locomotive.

3. a fire engine.

4. any mechanical contrivance.

5. a machine or instrument used in warfare, as a battering ram, catapult, or piece of artillery.

6. Obs. an instrument of torture, esp. the rack.

[ 1250-1300; ME engin ingenium nature, innate quality, esp. mental power, hence a clever invention, equiv. to in- IN- 2 + -genium, equiv. to gen- begetting (see KIN) + -ium -IUM ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .