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internal combustion engine
noun
: a heat engine in which the combustion that generates the heat takes place inside the engine proper instead of in a furnace
Examples of internal combustion engine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s a useful property inside an internal combustion engine, which uses tiny explosions to turn a crank that spins the wheels of a truck or the propeller of a boat.
—Emily Wright, Washington Post, 27 June 2024
For more than 100 years, the internal combustion engine (ICE) has been the mechanism of choice for vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 6 June 2024
Regardless of what its exact market share is, the fundamental point is that the internal combustion engine—especially when powered by low-carbon technology and alternative fuels—will remain a significant fixture of the automotive market well into the future.
—Patrice Haettel, Fortune, 8 May 2024
Huge oil discoveries, among other things, tipped the balance in favor of the internal combustion engine.
—Carl Benedikt Frey, Foreign Affairs, 19 June 2020
See all Example Sentences for internal combustion engine
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'internal combustion engine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1884, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of internal combustion engine was
in 1884
Dictionary Entries Near internal combustion engine
Cite this Entry
“Internal combustion engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/internal%20combustion%20engine. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
internal combustion engine
noun
: an engine in which the fuel is ignited within the engine cylinder instead of in an external furnace
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