engine (n.)

  1. motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work

  2. something used to achieve a purpose; an engine of change'

  3. a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks

    [ Syn: locomotive , locomotive engine , railway locomotive ]

  4. an instrument or machine that is used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult, artillery piece, etc.; medieval engines of war'

The dictionary is based on the WordNet Electronic Lexical Database.
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