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Synonyms

diesel engine

American  

noun

  1. a compression-ignition engine in which a spray of fuel, introduced into air compressed to a temperature of approximately 1000° F (538° C), ignites at a virtually constant pressure.

diesel engine British  

noun

  1. a type of internal-combustion engine in which atomized fuel oil is sprayed into the cylinder and ignited by compression alone

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
diesel engine Scientific  
/ dē′zəl /

  1. An internal-combustion engine in which the fuel oil is ignited by the heat of air that has been highly compressed in the cylinder, rather than by a spark. Due to the need for the engine to withstand very high pressures, diesel engines are relatively heavy; however, they are relatively fuel-efficient, especially when running at low power.

Etymology

Origin of diesel engine

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Later this year, the car will take to the iconic Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to try to break the current diesel engine record of 350.092 mph - set by JCB in 2006.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

LiquidPiston’s engine can run on everything from diesel to jet fuel, while being a fraction of the size of a comparable diesel engine, and up to 30% more efficient than a comparable gasoline one.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

"I feel like I'm more of a diesel engine sometimes where I need to get going first, then at some point I'll start playing good tennis. I have to play a preparation tournament."

From Barron's • Jan. 3, 2026

The train ride — a one-eighth scale model of a diesel engine — first arrived at Descanso Gardens as a seasonal attraction in the 1980s, and became a permanent feature in 1996.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 18, 2024

They could hear the diesel engine out on the road, running on God knows what.

From "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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