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Glite Dictionary
rotary engine

rotary engine

1 6.9
A machine that makes power by turning parts around a central point, used in cars or planes
  • noun
  • /ˈroʊtəri ˈɛnʤɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : motor rotativo
  • The new sports car features a powerful rotary engine that delivers impressive speed and performance.
  • Wankel rotary engine
  • eight rotary engines
  • horsepower rotary engine

Examples

  • The airplane was powered by a state-of-the-art rotary engine, making it more efficient during flight.

  • Shkolnik says that the X2 engine is a rotary because piston engines aren't suitable for the HEHC, and a rotary engine provides much more flexibility.

    Blog text (2)

  • This is a rotary engine Mazda.

    The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat (1974)

  • As it gained speed, she held her breath, released the clutch, and bit her lip until the unmuffled rotary engine began whining.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Mazda's rotary engine has a unique design that allows it to be lighter and more compact than traditional engines.

Synonyms

Wankel engine
vsrotary engine
  • Specialized
8.0

A motor that makes power by a three-sided rotor turning inside an oval chamber

is the broader class of rotating-part internal combustion machines, not just this rotor design
Wankel rotary engine
vsrotary engine
  • Specialized
7.8

A car engine that makes power using a spinning three-sided piece instead of moving pistons

is the general class of rotating-part internal combustion machines, not only this four-stroke form
epitrochoidal engine
vsrotary engine
  • Specialized
9.9

An engine with a three-sided part that turns in a curved path instead of pistons

is the broader type of rotating-part internal combustion machines, not this specific rotor motion

Surface Forms

rotary engine singular
rotary engines plural

Morphology

rotary + engine

The meaning 'an engine that operates by rotation' is directly and compositionally derivable from 'rotary' (rotating) + 'engine' (a machine), following a standard adjective + noun pattern. This is a transparent technical compound whose logic is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should understand it.

Etymology

Rotary engine comes from a simple picture: a rotary 'turning' engine has its parts move in a circle around a central point instead of moving up and down, so the name tells you it is an engine with parts that turn.