engine / motor
Loading your saved state.
engine / motor
A machine that converts a form of energy, such as fuel or electricity, into mechanical motion in order to power a vehicle or device.
Der Motor des Autos macht seit gestern seltsame Geräusche.
The car's engine has been making strange noises since yesterday.
'Motor' (engine / motor) is a very productive base word for many technical terms. If you see a word ending in '-motor', it is usually about a specific type of drive or engine, e.g. 'Elektromotor' (electric motor) or 'Dieselmotor' (diesel engine).
Viele moderne Autos haben einen Elektromotor.
Many modern cars have an electric motor.
In the technical sense, 'Motor' (engine / motor) is often used with certain verbs: a motor 'läuft' (runs) or 'stottert' (sputters), you can 'starten' (start) or 'abstellen' (switch off) it, and it can 'anspringen' (start up).
Bei der Kälte wollte der Motor einfach nicht anspringen.
In the cold, the engine simply wouldn't start.
You can recognize the figurative meaning 'treibende Kraft' (driving force) from the fact that it is not about a machine. Often a person or an abstract idea is described as the 'Motor für' (driving force behind) a development or the 'Motor eines' (driving force of) a project.
Innovation ist der Motor für wirtschaftliches Wachstum.
Innovation is the driving force behind economic growth.
machine
'die Maschine' and 'der Motor' both belong to the area of technology and have to do with movement or work. However, a machine is the whole device that performs a task. The engine or motor is usually the part that powers the machine or a vehicle. Learners may confuse the words because a motor itself is also a kind of machine. In everyday language, the distinction is important: with a car, you talk about the 'Motor' when you mean the engine or drive system; with a device in a workshop or factory, you are more likely to talk about a 'Maschine'.
Nach der langen Fahrt war der Motor des Autos sehr heiß.
After the long drive, the car's engine was very hot.
Die neue Maschine verpackt jeden Tag viele Kartons.
The new machine packs many boxes every day.