1
: 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 engines for quasars
2
: a railroad locomotive
3
a
: something used to effect a purpose : agent, instrument
mournful and terrible engine of horror and of crime—
E. A. Poe
E. A. Poe
b
: something that produces a particular and usually desirable result
engines of economic growth
4
a
b
: any of various mechanical appliances
—often used in combination
fire engine
c
: a mechanical tool: such as
(1)
: an instrument or machine of war
(2)
obsolete
: a torture implement
5
: computer software that performs a fundamental function especially of a larger program
engineless
adjective
Synonyms
Examples of engine in a Sentence
Noun
The car has a four-cylinder engine.
tanks, planes, and other engines of war
The tax cut could be an engine of economic growth.
Recent Examples on the Web
Erik Pedersen, Orange County Register, 14 Nov. 2024
Studio is the game engine's most recent version, but AppGameKit Classic is still available.
—Jordan Minor, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Remain in the vehicle with your seat belt fastened, engine off, and parking brake set.
—Charles Ventura, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for engine 
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Noun
The engine of a good detective novel is the same engine that drives a good literary novel: There’s a mystery at the heart of all good stories that keeps the reader turning pages.
—Erik Pedersen, Orange County Register, 14 Nov. 2024
Studio is the game engine's most recent version, but AppGameKit Classic is still available.
—Jordan Minor, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024
Verb
The speedy Fox engined the Kings in transition and Sabonis operated from the elbows.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Remain in the vehicle with your seat belt fastened, engine off, and parking brake set.
—Charles Ventura, USA TODAY, 7 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for engine
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Dictionary Entries Near engine
Cite this Entry
“Engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/engine. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
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