diesel engine

noun

: an internal combustion engine in which air is compressed to a temperature sufficiently high to ignite fuel injected into the cylinder where the combustion and expansion actuate a piston

Examples of diesel engine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In ports without shore power infrastructure, ships could also shut down their diesel engines and run on battery power for several hours. Nathan Diller, USA Today, 10 June 2025 For carbon- free operation, Pure Electric runs on battery power alone, while at the other end, Crossover uses a diesel engine to drive the electric pod motors. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 10 June 2025 The regulations mandate that by 2035, diesel engines on existing vessels must be upgraded and new builds must have zero-emission propulsion systems. Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025 According to Chi Li, assistant research professor and first author of the study, the small particles identified tend to come from direct air emissions, such as black carbon particles from diesel engines, or the smoke from wildfires. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for diesel engine

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of diesel engine was in 1894

Cite this Entry

“Diesel engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diesel%20engine. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

diesel engine

noun
: an internal-combustion engine in which air is compressed to make enough heat to ignite the fuel in the cylinder

More from Merriam-Webster on diesel engine

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