Engine Definition

ĕnjĭn

engines

noun

engines

Any machine that uses energy to develop mechanical power; esp., a machine for transmitting motion to some other machine.

Webster's New World

Such a machine distinguished from an electric, spring-driven, or hydraulic motor by its use of a fuel.

American Heritage

Any instrument or machine; apparatus.

Engines of warfare, engines of torture.

Webster's New World

A railroad locomotive.

Webster's New World

Any means or device.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

verb

To equip with an engine or engines.

American Heritage

(dated) To equip with an engine; said especially of steam vessels.

Vessels are often built by one firm and engined by another.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Engine

Singular:

engine

Plural:

engines

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”), from ingenitum, past participle of ingignere (“to instil by birth, implant, produce in”). Compare gin, ingenious.

From Wiktionary
Middle English engin skill, machine from Old French innate ability from Latin ingenium genə- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition