engine
noun
en·gine
| \ ˈen-jən
\
\
Definition of engine
(Entry 1 of 2)
2a
: something used to effect a purpose : agent, instrument
mournful and terrible engine of horror and of crime— E. A. Poe
b
: something that produces a particular and usually desirable result
engines of economic growth
3a
: a mechanical tool: such as
(1)
: an instrument or machine of war
(2)
obsolete
: a torture implement
b
: machinery
c
: any of various mechanical appliances
—often used in combination fire engine
4
: a machine for converting any of various forms of energy into mechanical force and motion
also
: a mechanism or object that serves as an energy source
black holes may be the engines for quasars
5
: a railroad locomotive
6
: computer software that performs a fundamental function especially of a larger program