engine

English

/ˈɛnd͡ʒɪn/, /ˈend͡ʒɪn/, /ˈend͡ʒɘn/

noun
Definitions
  • A large construction used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult etc.
  • (now) A tool; a utensil or implement.
  • A complex mechanical device which converts energy into useful motion or physical effects.
  • A person or group of people which influence a larger group; a driving force.
  • 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, especially a locomotive, used for pulling cars along a track.
  • (computing) A software or hardware system responsible for a specific technical task (usually with qualifying word).
  • (obsolete) Ingenuity; cunning, trickery, guile.
  • (obsolete) The result of cunning; something ingenious, a contrivance; (in negative senses) a plot, a scheme.
  • (obsolete) Natural talent; genius.
  • Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent.

Etymology

Borrowed from engine derived from Old French engin (war machine, cleverness, engine, skill) derived from Latin ingenium (an engine, nature, innate natural quality, genius, an invention, a producer, a genius, machine, LL) root from Proto-Indo-European *ǵenh₁- (produce, beget, give birth, be born, procreate, generate, beget give birth to, bear).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*ǵenh₁-

Gloss

produce, beget, give birth, be born, procreate, generate, beget give birth to, bear

Concept
Semantic Field

Modern world

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

産

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms