simple engine

noun

1
: an engine (such as a steam engine) in which the expansion is completed in a single phase and exhausted to atmosphere or condenses after a single stroke of the piston compare compound engine
2
: a steam engine in which the live steam is fed directly to the cylinders and after a single use of its expansive force is allowed to escape through the exhaust

contrasted with compound engine

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Cite this Entry

“Simple engine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simple%20engine. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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