STEAM ENGINE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does steam engine mean? 

• STEAM ENGINE (noun)
  The noun STEAM ENGINE has 1 sense:

1. external-combustion engine in which heat is used to raise steam which either turns a turbine or forces a piston to move up and down in a cylinder

  Familiarity information: STEAM ENGINE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STEAM ENGINE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

External-combustion engine in which heat is used to raise steam which either turns a turbine or forces a piston to move up and down in a cylinder

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("steam engine" is a kind of...):

external-combustion engine (a heat engine in which ignition occurs outside the chamber (cylinder or turbine) in which heat is converted to mechanical energy)

Meronyms (parts of "steam engine"):

boiler; steam boiler (sealed vessel where water is converted to steam)

crosshead (metal block that connects to a piston; it slides on parallel guides and moves a connecting rod back and forth)

steam chest (the chamber from which steam is distributed to a cylinder)

Holonyms ("steam engine" is a part of...):

steamer; steamship (a ship powered by one or more steam engines)

steam locomotive (a locomotive powered by a steam engine)