engine

engine — noun

1. a machine that burns fuel such as petrol, diesel, or coal to produce the power t

1.名詞B1
釋義

a machine that burns fuel such as petrol, diesel, or coal to produce the power that makes a vehicle move or a machine operate

例句

Tendai turned the key and the car's engine started with a low rumble.

start + engine collocation

Before the flight, Christopher checked both engines on the small passenger plane.

check + engine before departure

同義詞
  • motor

    Often used for electrical machines (fan motor, washing machine motor). For cars, 'motor' is informal British English for 'car' itself, not the engine.

  • power plant

    A very formal or technical term for the engine of a ship or large vehicle.

文法句型

countable noun

often modified by a type adjective (diesel / petrol / steam / jet)

用法筆記

Modified by the type of fuel or technology — petrol engine, diesel engine, jet engine, steam engine. The verb 'start' and 'turn off' are the most common actions paired with this sense.

常見錯誤

❌The motor of my car is broken.
✅The engine of my car is broken.
💡In everyday English, most road vehicles have engines (fuel-burning). 'Motor' usually refers to an electrical device.

2. the vehicle at the front of a train that pulls the carriages or wagons along the

2.名詞B1
釋義

the vehicle at the front of a train that pulls the carriages or wagons along the railway track

例句

The steam engine at the railway museum still runs every Sunday for visitors.

steam engine = locomotive

Noor watched the old diesel engine pull twenty heavy wagons up the steep hill.

同義詞
  • locomotive

    More formal and technical. 'Locomotive' is preferred in official railway writing, while 'engine' is common in everyday British conversation.

文法句型

countable noun

often preceded by 'steam' or 'train'

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1 — an engine (sense 2) is the whole vehicle that pulls a train, not just a power source inside another vehicle. Common in British railway contexts; 'locomotive' is the more formal term.

常見錯誤

❌I saw an old engine driving on the highway.
✅I saw an old steam engine at the railway station.
💡This sense only refers to trains on railway tracks, not road vehicles.

3. something that strongly drives or pushes a process, economic activity, or develo

3.名詞B2
釋義

something that strongly drives or pushes a process, economic activity, or development forward — for example, an industry that creates jobs, or an idea that transforms society

例句

Tourism is the main engine of economic growth on the tropical island.

engine of [economic] growth

Hui believes that small businesses are the engine of innovation in the city.

同義詞
  • driver

    More informal and slightly weaker. 'The main driver of change' means an important factor, while 'the engine of change' suggests the primary source of power.

  • motor

    Used in similar metaphorical phrases (the motor of the economy), but less common than 'engine' in this sense.

  • catalyst

    A catalyst speeds up a change without being the main power source. 'Engine' implies being the central power itself.

反義詞
  • brake

    Metaphorically, something that slows progress — 'bureaucracy acted as a brake on development.'

文法句型

engine of + abstract noun (growth / change / development)

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'of' — engine of growth, engine of change, engine of prosperity. The noun after 'of' names the area being powered. This sense is metaphorical and never refers to a physical machine.

常見錯誤

❌Tourism is a strong engine for economic growth.
✅Tourism is an engine of economic growth.
💡The correct preposition after this sense is 'of', not 'for'.
❌Education is the engine to create opportunities.
✅Education is the engine that creates opportunities.
💡Use a 'that'-clause, not a 'to'-infinitive.

engine — verb