engine
nounEtymology
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.
Definitions
A large construction used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult etc.
- Their warlike Engins and munition Exceed the forces of their martial men.
A tool
A tool; a utensil or implement.
- 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?
A complex mechanical device which converts energy into useful motion or physical effects.
›+ 11 more definitionsshow fewer
A person or group of people which influence a larger group
A person or group of people which influence a larger group; a driving force.
- 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.
The part of a car or other vehicle which provides the force for motion, now especially…
The part of a car or other vehicle which provides the force for motion, now especially one powered by internal combustion.
A self-powered vehicle used for moving cars along a track.
A software or hardware system responsible for a specific technical task (usually with…
A software or hardware system responsible for a specific technical task (usually with qualifying word).
- a graphics engine
- a physics engine
Ingenuity
Ingenuity; cunning, trickery, guile.
The result of cunning
The result of cunning; something ingenious, a contrivance; (in negative senses) a plot, a scheme.
- Therefore this craftie engine he did frame, / Againſt his praiſe to ſtirre vp enmitye [...].
Natural talent
Natural talent; genius.
Anything used to effect a purpose
Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent.
- [...] 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?
To equip with an engine
To equip with an engine; said especially of steam vessels.
- Vessels are often built by one firm and engined by another.
To assault with an engine.
- to engine and batter our walls
To contrive
To contrive; to put into action.
The neighborhood
- synonymmotor
- synonymlocomotive
- neighborengineer
- neighborgenius
- neighboringeniosity
- neighboringenious
Derived
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 · +13 more
Vish — recursive loop
A definitional loop anchored at engine. Each word in the ring is defined by the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself. Scroll to it and watch.
A definitional loop anchored at engine. Each word in the ring appears in the definition of the next; follow the chain far enough and it folds back on itself.
10 hops · closes at engine
curated · pre-corpus. live cycle detection across the full graph is the next major milestone.
sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA