- the profession of applying scientific principles to the design, construction, and maintenance of engines, cars, machines, etc (mechanical engineering), buildings, bridges, roads, etc (civil engineering), electrical machines and communication systems (electrical engineering), chemical plant and machinery (chemical engineering), or aircraft (aeronautical engineering)
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
en•gi•neer•ing /ˌɛndʒəˈnɪrɪŋ/USA pronunciation
n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- the practical application of science and mathematics, as in the design and construction of machines, vehicles, structures, roads, and systems.
- the work or profession of an engineer.
en•gi•neer•ing
(en′jə nēr′ing),USA pronunciation n.
- the art or science of making practical application of the knowledge of pure sciences, as physics or chemistry, as in the construction of engines, bridges, buildings, mines, ships, and chemical plants.
- the action, work, or profession of an engineer.
- skillful or artful contrivance;
maneuvering.
- engineer + -ing1 1710–20
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
engineering /ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪərɪŋ/ n
en•gi•neer /ˌɛndʒəˈnɪr/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- a person who is trained in any of various branches of engineering: a civil engineer;
an electrical engineer. - a person who operates or is in charge of a railroad locomotive.
v. [~ + object]
- to plan, build, construct, or manage as an engineer:This bridge is engineered for heavy traffic.
- to arrange, manage, or carry through by skillful or clever means:He engineered the election of his friend.
en•gi•neer
(en′jə nēr′),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
- a person trained and skilled in the design, construction, and use of engines or machines, or in any of various branches of engineering:a mechanical engineer; a civil engineer.
- Rail Transporta person who operates or is in charge of an engine.
- Rail TransportAlso called locomotive engineer. a person who operates or is in charge of a locomotive.
- Militarya member of an army, navy, or air force specially trained in engineering work.
- a skillful manager:a political engineer.
v.t.
- to plan, construct, or manage as an engineer:He's engineered several big industrial projects.
- to design or create using the techniques or methods of engineering:The motor has been engineered to run noiselessly.
- to arrange, manage, or carry through by skillful or artful contrivance:He certainly engineered the election campaign beautifully.
- Medieval Latin ingeniātor, equivalent. to ingeniā(re) to design, devise (verb, verbal derivative of ingenium; see engine) + Latin -tor -tor
- Anglo-French engineor Old French engigneor
- 1350–1400; engine + -eer; replacing Middle English engin(e)our
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
engineer /ˌɛndʒɪˈnɪə/ n
- a person trained in any branch of the profession of engineering
- the originator or manager of a situation, system, etc
- a mechanic; person who repairs or services machines
- US Canadian the driver of a railway locomotive
- an officer responsible for a ship's engines
- Informal name: sapper a member of the armed forces, esp the army, trained in engineering and construction work
- to originate, cause, or plan in a clever or devious manner: he engineered the minister's downfall
- to design, plan, or construct as a professional engineer
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'engineering' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
BE
- BEng
- bioengineering
- bioethics
- biotechnology
- Bobruisk
- BPR
- brass
- Brighouse
- business process re-engineering
- cDNA
- chemical engineering
- Chemnitz
- civil engineer
- Cochin
- complementary DNA
- computer-aided engineering
- concurrent engineering
- Dagenham
- Derby
- designer baby
- Dumbarton
- earthwork
- Eastleigh
- electrical engineering
- electronic
- Elgin
- engineer
- extreme programming
- fluid mechanics
- Gateshead
- gene library
- genetic engineering
- geotextile
- Hartlepool
- Hyde
- interactive engineering
- Inverness
- Irkutsk
- iron
- Kiel
- Kilmarnock
- Kimberley
- Kirov
- Kolomna
- Kovrov
- Leicester
- Leigh
- Linköping
- A.Ae.E.
