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engine

Pronunciation: /ˈɛnd͡ʒɪn/

The English word “engine” has 15 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A large construction used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult etc.
  2. A tool; a utensil or implement.
  3. A complex mechanical device which converts energy into useful motion or physical effects.
  4. A person or group of people which influence a larger group; a driving force.
  5. The part of a car or other vehicle which provides the force for motion, now especially one powered by internal combustion.
  6. A self-powered vehicle used for moving cars along a track.
  7. A locomotive.
  8. A software or hardware system responsible for a specific technical task (usually with qualifying word).
  9. Ingenuity; cunning, trickery, guile.
  10. The result of cunning; something ingenious, a contrivance; (in negative senses) a plot, a scheme.
  11. Natural talent; genius.
  12. Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent.

verb

  1. To equip with an engine; said especially of steam vessels.
  2. To assault with an engine.
  3. To contrive; to put into action.

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.

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.