engine — Dictionnaire anglais

Nom

1. A large construction used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult etc.

   Exemples

   Their warlike Engins and munition Exceed the forces of their martial men.

2. A tool; a utensil or implement.

   Usage

   • archaïque

   Exemples

   Plus d’exemples (2)

   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?

3. A complex mechanical device which converts energy into useful motion or physical effects.

   Synonymes

   drivemotor

4. A person or group of people which influence a larger group; a driving force.

   Exemples

   Plus d’exemples (1)

   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.

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 self-powered vehicle used for moving cars along a track. A locomotive.

   Usage

   • usually

8. A software or hardware system responsible for a specific technical task (usually with qualifying word).

   Exemples

   a graphics engine

   a physics engine

9. Ingenuity; cunning, trickery, guile.

   Usage

   • désuet

10. The result of cunning; something ingenious, a contrivance; (in negative senses) a plot, a scheme.

    Usage

    • désuet

    Exemples

    Therefore this craftie engine he did frame, / Againſt his praiſe to ſtirre vp enmitye [...].

11. Natural talent; genius.

    Usage

    • désuet

12. Anything used to effect a purpose; any device or contrivance; an agent.

    Exemples

    [...] 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?

Verbe

1. To equip with an engine; said especially of steam vessels.

   Usage

   • vieilli
   • transitif

   Exemples

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

2. To assault with an engine.

   Usage

   • désuet
   • transitif

   Exemples

   to engine and batter our walls

3. To contrive; to put into action.

   Usage

   • désuet
   • transitif

Nom

1. motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work

   Termes génériques

   motor

2. something used to achieve a purpose

   Termes génériques

   causal agentcausecausal agency

   Exemples

   an engine of change

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

   Synonymes

   locomotivelocomotive enginerailway locomotive

   Termes génériques

   self-propelled vehicle

4. an instrument or machine that is used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult, artillery piece, etc.

   Termes génériques

   instrument

   Exemples

   medieval engines of war