Definitions
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective (Mach.) Designating, or pertaining to, any engine (called an Internal-combustion engine) in which the heat or pressure energy necessary to produce motion is developed in the engine cylinder, as by the explosion of a gas, and not in a separate chamber, as in a steam-engine boiler. The gas used may be a fixed gas, or one derived from alcohol, ether, gasoline (petrol), naphtha, oil (petroleum), etc. There are three main classes: (1) gas engines proper, using fixed gases, as coal, blast-furnace, or producer gas; (2) engines using the vapor of a volatile fluid, as the typical gasoline (petrol) engine; (3) oil engines, using either an atomized spray or the vapor (produced by heat) of a comparatively heavy oil, as petroleum or kerosene. In all of these the gas is mixed with a definite amount of air, the charge is composed in the cylinder and is then exploded either by a flame of gas (flame ignition -- now little used), by a hot tube (tube ignition) or the like, by an electric spark (electric ignition, the usual method is gasoline engines, or by the heat of compression, as in the Diesel engine. Gas and oil engines are chiefly of the stationary type. Gasoline engines are largely used for automobile vehicles, boats, etc. Most internal-combustion engines use the Otto (four-stroke) cycle, though many use the two-stroke cycle. They are almost universally trunk engines and single-acting. Because of the intense heat produced by the frequent explosions, the cylinders must be cooled by a water jacket (water-cooled) or by air currents (air cooled) to give the maximum thermodynamic efficiency and to avoid excessive friction or seizing.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the combustion of fuel inside a cylinder (as in an internal-combustion engine)
Etymologies
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Examples
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Unlike internal-combustion engines, Brady explains, electric motors don't need to work their way up to maximum horsepower; they deliver it instantly, giving a distinctive mettle to the pedal at start-up speeds.
Gene and the Machine: The shocking truth about the electric Volt Gene Weingarten 2011
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Even though they had to carry gasoline cans when taking longer trips, drivers liked the unlimited range of cars propelled by a gasoline-powered, internal-combustion engine.
A Nation of Drivers Mark Yost 2012
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Toyota also plans to halve powertrain costs in its next generation of Prius hybrid vehicles by better integrating the internal-combustion gasoline engine with the electric motor, Mr. Niimi said.
Yen Forces Toyota Cuts Chester Dawson 2011
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"The buzz has been all about electric vehicles and hybrids, but to me, the real buzz should be about the old internal-combustion engine," said Jeremy Anwyl, chief executive of Edmunds.com, an automotive Web site.
Conventional gas-powered cars starting to match hybrids in fuel efficiency 2011
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All around me, there were cars and trucks with traditional internal-combustion engines running low on gasoline and diesel fuel, a rush to empty quickened by mad mashing of accelerator pedals, spinning wheels on icy roads, going nowhere.
2011 Nissan Altima 2.5S sedan Warren Brown 2011
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Honda For 2012, Honda bumped the displacement and output of the Civic Hybrid's internal-combustion engine (1.5 liters, up from 1.3) and electric motor (20 kW, up from 15 kW), as well as upgrading to lithium chemistry batteries (replacing the nickel-metal hydride).
A Giant Stumbles 2011
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The Heat were unstoppable progress, like the internal-combustion engine, or microwavable minicheeseburgers.
These Days, Everyone Can Stand the Heat Jason Gay 2011
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Only a truly revolutionary electric vehicle -- one that does everything internal-combustion models can do, for the same price or less -- could break the cycle.
Tom Friedman's electric car aid acid test Charles Lane 2010
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We were playing with internal-combustion hydrogen and with fuel cells.
A New Gear 2011
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"The buzz has been all about electric vehicles and hybrids, but to me, the real buzz should be about the old internal-combustion engine," said Jeremy Anwyl, chief executive of Edmunds.com, an automotive Web site.
Conventional gas-powered cars starting to match hybrids in fuel efficiency 2011
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