automobile engine
1
2.7
- noun
- /ˈɔːtəməˌbiːl ˈɛnʤɪn/
- Specialized
:
motor de automóvil
- To improve fuel efficiency, mechanics often suggest regular maintenance for the automobile engine.
Examples
-
In the cities, such as Fairbanks, moisture from automobile engines would contribute to ice fog, and aircraft could not land because of having no visibility.
Fiction book (2002) -
Let us say that two computer manufacturers form a joint venture to supply on-board computers for automobile engines.
Academic text (1995) -
The sound of an automobile engine outside.
Fiction book (1993) -
Esther followed the noise, which was that of a running automobile engine.
Fiction book (1996) -
And that's because an automobile engine is made by human engineers with an intended purpose.
-
He had to do the work at night because there was too much radio interference from the sparks in automobile engines during the daytime.
Academic text (2004) -
For example, millions of micromachined pressure sensors are used to gauge an automobile engine's air intake and to measure a patient's blood pressure.
Academic text (1994) -
Noise levels generated by an automobile engine, measured a half meter from an unmuffled exhaust, are on the order of 130 dB.
Academic text (1995) -
The automobile engine roared to life as she turned the ignition key.
-
The automobile engine is the most vital component for propelling the vehicle forward.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A machine that uses fuel to make power for cars or machines
How Powerful
- Specialized
1
2.7
- UK
1
3.2
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'engine that provides power to propel an automobile' is directly and compositionally derived from 'automobile' (a powered vehicle) + 'engine' (a machine converting fuel to mechanical energy). This straightforward noun–noun compound follows common English and cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Automobile engine simply puts automobile (a car) and engine (a machine that makes power) together; imagine a machine under the hood that makes the car move, so the phrase means 'the engine that gives power to a car'.