engineer
engineer — noun
1. a person who designs and creates machines, buildings, roads, or electrical syste
a person who designs and creates machines, buildings, roads, or electrical systems by putting scientific and mathematical knowledge into practice.
Yael works as a civil engineer for the city, helping to design safer roads and bridges.
collocation: civil engineer
Aoi decided to become a software engineer after building her first mobile app in high school.
collocation: software engineer
The consulting firm hired a structural engineer to check whether the old building could support extra floors.
Ezra studied mechanical engineering at university and now works as an engineer at a car factory in Detroit.
The lead engineer on the bridge project presented her final design to the city council last Thursday.
- designer
Broader term; a designer may create the look or function of something without applying engineering science.
- architect
Focuses on planning and designing buildings, not machines or systems.
- technician
More hands-on and less theory-based; technicians typically install, maintain, or repair rather than design.
文法句型
engineer + noun (specialisation)
用法筆記
Often used with a preceding specialisation label: civil engineer, software engineer, mechanical engineer — these indicate the specific branch of engineering the person works in.
常見錯誤
2. a person whose occupation is to fix, check, or run mechanical or electrical devi
a person whose occupation is to fix, check, or run mechanical or electrical devices and systems.
Amani called a heating engineer when the boiler stopped working in the middle of winter.
collocation: heating engineer
The ship's engineer checked the main engine every two hours during the long voyage across the Atlantic.
Andrés works as an aircraft engineer and inspects the landing gear before every flight.
Léa brought in an electrical engineer to rewire the old house and fix the faulty sockets.
A service engineer from the manufacturer visits the factory every month to maintain the printing machines.
- technician
Commonly used for the same role; 'technician' often implies less formal theoretical training than 'engineer'.
- mechanic
Restricted to mechanical equipment such as vehicles; does not cover electrical or electronic systems.
- operator
Focuses on running a machine rather than repairing it.
文法句型
engineer + noun (equipment type)
用法筆記
In this sense the focus is on maintenance and operation rather than original design. Common in industries such as shipping, aviation, and building services.
3. the person who drives a train, especially a steam locomotive or diesel engine.
the person who drives a train, especially a steam locomotive or diesel engine.
The elderly engineer gently brought the steam locomotive to a stop at the small countryside station.
Yuki waved to passengers from the cab as the engineer slowly pulled the train away from the platform.
British variety: engineer = train driver
Saira's grandfather worked as an engineer on the old steam railway in the 1960s, hauling coal to the coast.
The engineer sounded the whistle twice before the express train departed from London Paddington.
- train driver
More transparent and commonly used outside of railway industry contexts.
- locomotive engineer
American English equivalent for this sense.
用法筆記
This sense is primarily British English. In American English the same role is called a train engineer or locomotive engineer. 'Engineer' by itself in the US would almost always mean sense 1.
常見錯誤
engineer — verb
1. to secretly plan and bring about a situation or event, especially in a clever wa
to secretly plan and bring about a situation or event, especially in a clever way that gives you an advantage, often by dishonest means.
Tyler engineered a deal that gave his company exclusive rights to the new technology.
transitive: engineer a deal
The politician engineered a clever tax change that mainly benefited his wealthy supporters.
Apinya engineered an unexpected merger that caught all the other firms completely off guard.
The director engineered a series of layoffs that left only his closest allies in the department.
The whole scandal was carefully engineered to make the mayor look corrupt just before the election.
- manipulate
Broader and more negative; implies controlling people, not just events.
- orchestrate
Suggests coordinated planning of multiple elements, often in the arts or politics.
- contrive
More formal and often implies artificial or forced planning.
- stage-manage
Suggests controlling how an event is perceived, like a theatrical production.
文法句型
engineer + noun (event/situation)
be engineered + to-infinitive
be carefully/cleverly engineered
用法筆記
Frequently carries a negative or cynical tone — the planning is secretive and serves the planner's own interests. Passive constructions (was engineered) are common when the agent is unnamed or unclear.
常見錯誤
2. to plan and create a system, product, or structure by drawing on technical and s
to plan and create a system, product, or structure by drawing on technical and scientific expertise.
Yael's team engineered a new cooling system that uses seventy percent less energy.
transitive: engineer + system
The company engineered a lightweight wheelchair that folds flat for easy storage in small cars.
Saira's research group engineered a water filter that removes microplastics from the supply.
A Japanese construction firm engineered a bridge designed to survive earthquakes up to magnitude eight.
The team engineered a solar-powered charging station for villages that have no access to the power grid.
- design
Focuses on planning and drawing specifications; does not necessarily include building.
- build
More general, covering construction of anything from furniture to skyscrapers without implying scientific knowledge.
- develop
Broader term covering the whole process from concept to finished product, often including testing.
- construct
Emphasises the building phase; typically used for physical structures.
文法句型
engineer + noun (product/system)
engineer + noun + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Neutral tone, unlike verb sense 1. The object is typically a physical product, technical system, or infrastructure component. The subject is usually a person, team, or company with technical expertise.