internal-combustion
Definition
- Adjective:
- Relating to a type of engine: "internal-combustion" describes an engine in which fuel is burned inside the engine itself, rather than in an external furnace. The combustion of fuel (such as petrol or diesel) occurs within a chamber, producing hot gases that directly drive pistons or turbines.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- The internal-combustion engine revolutionized transportation in the 20th century. (An engine that burns fuel inside its cylinders.)
- Many cars still rely on internal-combustion technology, despite the rise of electric vehicles. (Technology based on fuel burning inside the engine.)
Advanced Usage
"internal-combustion engine": the most common collocation, referring to a heat engine where the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer (usually air) in a combustion chamber.
- The internal-combustion engine converts chemical energy into mechanical work. (The engine uses fuel combustion to produce motion.)
"internal-combustion vehicle": a vehicle powered by such an engine.
- The ban on internal-combustion vehicles in some cities aims to reduce air pollution. (Cars, trucks, and motorcycles that burn fuel internally.)
Variants and Related Words
Internal combustion (noun phrase): the process of burning fuel within an enclosed space.
- The principle of internal combustion is fundamental to modern engines. (The burning of fuel inside a chamber.)
Combustion (noun): the process of burning.
- Combustion requires oxygen and fuel. (The chemical reaction of burning.)
Synonyms
- Fuel-burning: relating to an engine that burns fuel.
- Combustion-engine: a synonym for internal-combustion engine.
Related Idioms
"Rev the engine": to increase the speed of an internal-combustion engine.
- He revved the internal-combustion engine to test its power. (He made the engine run faster.)
"Running on fumes": operating with very little fuel left (often used figuratively).
- The old internal-combustion car was running on fumes. (The car had almost no petrol left.)