engine
Part of speech: noun
Morphological type: simple
Topics: computing
engineering
mathematics
natural-sciences
physical-sciences
sciences
Etymology: From Middle English engyn, from Anglo-Norman engine, Old French engin (“skill, cleverness, war machine”), from Latin ingenium (“innate or natural quality, nature, genius, a genius, an invention, (in Late Latin) a war-engine, battering-ram”), related to ingignō (“to instil by birth, implant, produce in”). Compare gin, ingenious, engineer.
Inflected forms:
form: engines
pos: noun
tags: plural
Senses:
gloss: A large construction used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult etc.
pos: noun
examples: Their warlike Engins and munition
Exceed the forces of their martial men.
gloss: A tool; a utensil or implement.
pos: noun
tags: archaic
examples: Flattery must be the most powerful Argument that cou'd be used to Human Creatures. Making use of this bewitching Engine, they extoll'd the Excellency of our Nature above other Animals [...].
What if the Foot, ordain'd the duſt to tread, / Or Hand, to toil, aſpir'd to be the Head? / What if the Head, the Eye, or Ear repin'd / To ſerve mere Engines to the ruling Mind?
gloss: A complex mechanical device which converts energy into useful motion or physical effects.
pos: noun
gloss: A person or group of people which influence a larger group; a driving force.
pos: noun
examples: In France, the parliament soon became a mere engine in the hands of a few high-born and ambitious men, who had nothing in common with its interests, which were those of the people.
gloss: The part of a car or other vehicle which provides the force for motion, now especially one powered by internal combustion.
pos: noun
gloss: A self-powered vehicle used for moving cars along a track.
pos: noun
gloss: A self-powered vehicle used for moving cars along a track.
pos: noun
tags: usually
gloss: A software or hardware system responsible for a specific technical task (usually with qualifying word).
pos: noun
examples: a graphics engine
a physics engine
gloss: Ingenuity; cunning, trickery, guile.
pos: noun
tags: obsolete
gloss: The result of cunning; something ingenious, a contrivance; (in negative senses) a plot, a scheme.
pos: noun
tags: obsolete
examples: Therefore this craftie engine he did frame, / Againſt his praiſe to ſtirre vp enmitye [...].
gloss: Natural talent; genius.
pos: noun
tags: obsolete
gloss: Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent.
pos: noun
examples: [...] their promiſes, entiſements, oathes, tokens, and all theſe engines of luſt [...].
You ſee the ways the Fiſher-man doth take / To catch the Fiſh; what Engins doth he make?
Synonyms: motor
locomotive
Related words: engineer
genius
ingeniosity
ingenious
Derived words: bank engine
bullgine
Carnot engine
Carnot heat engine
crane engine
duplex pumping engine
engine bay
engine block
engine braking
engine cleaner
engine compartment
engine diaper
engine displacement
engine driver
engineer
engine generator
engine-generator
engine hour
engine house
engine knock
engine lathe
engineless
enginelike
engineman
engine mount
engine move
engine oil
engine order telegraph
enginer
engine-rich
engine room
enginery
engine shed
engine trouble
engine-turned
engine turning
in-engine
inline engine
Lenoir engine
microengine
midengine
multiengine
Novi engine
one engine in steam
re-engine
reengine
retro-engine
retroengine
search-engine-friendly
search engine optimization
siege-engine
stellar engine
V engine
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