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
'der Motor' and 'das Triebwerk' both refer to machines that can power a vehicle. 'Motor' is more general and is used especially for cars, motorcycles, boats, or devices. 'Triebwerk' is used mainly for aircraft and rockets because it generates thrust. Learners may confuse the words because both provide propulsion. In everyday language, you almost always say 'Motor' for a car. For an airplane, 'Triebwerk' is more precise and more natural.
Vor dem Start kontrolliert der Techniker das Triebwerk des Flugzeugs.
Before takeoff, the technician checks the aircraft's engine.
Nach dem Tanken hast du den Motor aus Versehen laufen lassen.
After filling up, you accidentally left the engine running.