engine
en·gine/ˈɛnd͡ʒɪn/noun, verb
engine is spelled E-N-G-I-N-E: 6 letters and 2 syllables (en·gine). It appears 69 times per million words in written English, the 1,528th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, engine means “A large construction used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult etc” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of engine is engines.
How many letters and syllables are in engine?
| Letters | 6: E-N-G-I-N-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: en·gine |
| In writing | 69 times per million words; the 1,528th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is engine?
Engine appears 69 times per million words in written English, the 1,528th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce engine?
- US /ˈɛnd͡ʒɪn/
- /ˈɪnd͡ʒɪn/
- /ˈɛnd͡ʒən/
Engine has 2 syllables, split en·gine in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-engine.ogg, LL-Q1860_(eng)-Wodencafe-engine.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Words people confuse with engine
Also written: engin.
Sources: English Wiktionary (homophones, alternative spellings).
Forms of engine
- engines plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- engining participle, present
- engined participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does engine mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
A large construction used in warfare, such as a battering ram, catapult etc.
- 2
archaicA tool; a utensil or implement.
- 3
A complex mechanical device which converts energy into useful motion or physical effects.
- 4
A person or group of people which influence a larger group; a driving force.
- 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 locomotive.
- 8
A software or hardware system responsible for a specific technical task (usually with qualifying word).
a graphics engine
verb
- 1
datedTo equip with an engine; said especially of steam vessels.
Vessels are often built by one firm and engined by another.
- 2
obsoleteTo assault with an engine.
- 3
obsoleteTo contrive; to put into action.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
How do you abbreviate engine?
Wiktionary records one abbreviation of engine: eng..
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Engine in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense mechanical device:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does engine come from?
From Middle English engyn, from Anglo-Norman engine, Old French engin (“skill, cleverness, war machine”), from Latin ingenium (“innate or natural quality, nature, genius, a genius, an invention, (in Late Latin) a war-engine, battering-ram”), related to ingignō (“to instil by birth, implant, produce in”). Compare gin, ingenious, engineer.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).