engine
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engine
A machine that generates thrust by converting energy in order to propel a vehicle, especially an airplane or a rocket.
Die Pilotin meldete einen Schaden am rechten Triebwerk und leitete eine Notlandung ein.
The pilot reported damage to the right engine and initiated an emergency landing.
The word is made up of 'Trieb' (drive/propulsion) and 'Werk' (works/mechanism). 'Trieb' comes from the verb 'treiben' (to drive, to propel, to move forward), and 'Werk' here stands for a technical installation or mechanism. A 'Triebwerk' is therefore a 'propulsion mechanism'.
Die Ingenieure überprüfen das neue Triebwerk auf seine Leistung.
The engineers are testing the new engine for its performance.
Common collocations are 'das Triebwerk starten' (to start the engine) or 'abstellen' (to shut it down). In the event of a problem, people speak of 'ein Schaden am Triebwerk' (damage to the engine) or say that 'ein Triebwerk ausfällt' (an engine fails).
Kurz nach dem Start fiel eines der vier Triebwerke aus.
Shortly after takeoff, one of the four engines failed.
'Triebwerk' (engine) is a technical term mainly used for the propulsion systems of aircraft, rockets, and some ships. It is not a general word for every motor.
Das Raumschiff wird von drei riesigen Triebwerken angetrieben.
The spacecraft is powered by three huge engines.
engine / motor
Both der Motor and das Triebwerk convert energy to propel a vehicle. Motor usually refers to the actual machine that produces power, whereas Triebwerk, when referring to aircraft or rockets, means the entire unit that generates thrust. Use Motor for a single power-producing machine and Triebwerk for the propulsion unit as a whole.
Das Triebwerk des kleinen Versuchsfliegers erzeugt genug Schub für den Start.
The small experimental aircraft’s engine generates enough thrust for takeoff.
Der Elektromotor treibt den kleinen Versuchsflieger an.
The electric motor powers the small experimental aircraft.
