radial engine
- noun
- /ˈreɪdiəl ˈɛndʒɪn/
- Specialized
:
motor radial
Examples
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Vertical axis machines enable several people to crank at the same time using design principles from radial engines.
Academic text (2011) -
Master and articulating rods for these radial engines could, perhaps, be fabricated locally from the wooden pestles they replace.
Academic text (2011) -
The vintage aircraft was powered by a radial engine, known for its unique arrangement of cylinders around a central crankcase.
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Many old planes are admired for their radial engines, which provide a distinctive sound and performance in flight.
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During the flight demonstration, the pilot explained how the radial engine operates efficiently with its circular design and multiple cylinders.
Synonyms
11
4.5
A machine that burns fuel inside to make power to move a car or plane
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is fully compositional: 'radial' means having parts that radiate from a center and 'engine' is a machine, so the phrase denotes an engine whose components are arranged in a circle around a centre. Although technical, this meaning follows straightforward English noun-noun composition (and similar patterns exist cross-linguistically), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the sense.
Etymology
Radial engine gets its name from the way its parts are placed: the cylinders are set in a circle around a center like the 'spokes' of a wheel, so radial describes that pattern and engine names the machine. That's why the term means an engine with cylinders in a circle, often used on airplanes because the open layout helps them stay cool and run well.