| 释义 |
ˈsteam-ˌengine
An engine in which the mechanical force of steam is made available as a motive power for driving machinery, etc.
Earlier names were fire-engine (see fire-engine 2) and atmospheric engine (Newcomen). The ordinary (stationary) engine is due to James Watt (patented 1769).
1751F. Blake in Phil. Trans. XLVII. 197 The fire-engine, or (to term it more properly) the steam-engine, for draining of mines, is a master-piece of machinery. 1757K. Fitzgerald Ibid. L. 54 A small boiler,..made in the shape of those commonly used in steam-engines. 1766Watt in Muirhead Invent. Watt (1854) I. 14, I have thought on a simpler circular steam-engine than what I mentioned to you. 1821Scott Pirate xvii, The monster..blew, with a noise resembling the explosion of a steam-engine, a huge shower of water into the air. 1856Emerson Eng. Traits v, The rapid doubling of the population dates from Watt's steam-engine.
b. A locomotive engine propelled by steam.
1815[see locomotive A. 2 d]. 1821T. Gray Observ. Iron Rlwy. i. 12 The canal boats might be towed by steam-engines running on a rail-way along the canal. 1823Byron Juan x. ii, Full soon Steam-engines will conduct him to the moon. 1934Railway Wonders of World I. 309/1 There is one factor, however, where the steam engine will probably always score, and that is in its greater length of useful life and lower maintenance costs. 1970F. McKenna Gloss. Railwaymen's Talk p. iii, The crash of the coal hopper..and the noise of steam engines preparing for their journeys no longer disturb the peaceful inhabitants of Mortimer Terrace and Highgate Road.
c. Often in hyperbolic or jocular comparisons.
1833J. Nyren Yng. Cricketer's Tutor (1902) 101 Neither he nor Quiddington ever had to stand against such steam⁓engine bowling as Brett's. c1840Syd. Smith in Lady Holland Mem. (1855) I. 267 Daniel Webster struck me much like a steam-engine in trousers. 1865M. Arnold Ess. Crit. i. 15 When your party talks this language like a steam engine.
Hence steamengineing vbl. n. (nonce-wd.).
1839Carlyle Chartism viii. (1840) 87 The Saxon kindred burst forth into..steamengining, railwaying, commercing. |