Jul 15, 2005 07:38
18 yrs ago
19 viewers *
English term
Romania
Inactive for the moment
Native in: Romanian 
Works in: English to Romanian, French to Romanian, Spanish to Romanian, and 1 more.
motor/engine
English
Tech/Engineering
Other
Okay... I get in a terminological list "motors and engines" in the same category. Could anyone please explain the difference?
TIA,
Dan
TIA,
Dan
Responses
+7
27 mins
Selected
See explanation below...
In addition to some differences in AE / BE usage, I would say there is also a tendency to differentiate on size, and sometimes energy source used.
For example, in BE at least, we tend to talk about:
car engine
petrol/diesel engine
marine inboard engine
jet engine
all tending to be quite large, and involving fuel
Whereas we talk about:
an outboard motor (likely to be petrol, but small) (though cf. the engine (OR: motor) used on a lawnmower etc.)
electric motor
I know that in AE, and informal language in the UK, we may talk about a 'automobile motor' and refer to a 'car' as a 'motor', but I think this is a different register, not really applicable to your context.
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Note added at 1 hr 12 mins (2005-07-15 08:50:41 GMT)
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I think the fuel difference that Terry has highlighted is indeed the primary factor that would help me decide which term \'fits\' best in any given context. The size is subsidiary: you can have some thumping great electric motors (but they stay motors), and these days there are som quite diddy little 2-stroke internal combustion engines available (but they stay engines).
The use of \'engine\' as a colloquial/childish word for \'railway locomotive\' is in my view a bit of a side issue.
It is interesting to note that in certain specialized modern meanings, the word \'engine\' has been taken deliberately in a different register: cf. search engine, laser-printer engine
And of course, in figurative uses: \"motor for reform\" (something that provides the \'driving/motive force\' behind --- here, the \'movement\' aspect is to the fore.
For example, in BE at least, we tend to talk about:
car engine
petrol/diesel engine
marine inboard engine
jet engine
all tending to be quite large, and involving fuel
Whereas we talk about:
an outboard motor (likely to be petrol, but small) (though cf. the engine (OR: motor) used on a lawnmower etc.)
electric motor
I know that in AE, and informal language in the UK, we may talk about a 'automobile motor' and refer to a 'car' as a 'motor', but I think this is a different register, not really applicable to your context.
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Note added at 1 hr 12 mins (2005-07-15 08:50:41 GMT)
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I think the fuel difference that Terry has highlighted is indeed the primary factor that would help me decide which term \'fits\' best in any given context. The size is subsidiary: you can have some thumping great electric motors (but they stay motors), and these days there are som quite diddy little 2-stroke internal combustion engines available (but they stay engines).
The use of \'engine\' as a colloquial/childish word for \'railway locomotive\' is in my view a bit of a side issue.
It is interesting to note that in certain specialized modern meanings, the word \'engine\' has been taken deliberately in a different register: cf. search engine, laser-printer engine
And of course, in figurative uses: \"motor for reform\" (something that provides the \'driving/motive force\' behind --- here, the \'movement\' aspect is to the fore.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
juvera
13 mins
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Thanks, Juvera!
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| agree |
Terry Gilman
: yes, different register; good examples//It was Dan's "terminological list" that made me think of my old parts lists days. Appropos your variants, the new "hybrids" seem to be "drives" (Toyota Prius).
23 mins
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Thanks a lot, Terry!
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| agree |
Yavor Dimitrov
: I like your explanation best.
1 hr
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Thanks, Tangra!
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| agree |
pidzej
: after the 08:50:41 addition
5 hrs
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Thanks, Pidzej!
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| agree |
Can Altinbay
6 hrs
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Thanks, Can!
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| agree |
Alp Berker
3 days 17 hrs
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Thanks, Alp!
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| agree |
AH WORD
6307 days
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Thanks, Ahlem!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks!"
5 mins
Yavor Dimitrov
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria
A creative flair for words
Native in: Bulgarian (Variant: Standard-Bulgaria)
Works in: English to Bulgarian, Bulgarian to English
"motor" is used mainly in US
As far as I am concerned, "a motor" is the American for an "engine".
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: Yes, but it is also used in Europe, I think the differences are more subtle than just that...
22 mins
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Thank you Dusty. Agree with you. I should've done more research on this.
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+2
6 mins
[see explanations]
MOTOR - Noun
1. Machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion.
ENGINE - Noun
1. Motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work.
2. Something used to achieve a purpose: "an engine of change".
3. Wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine used to draw trains along railway tracks.
WEBSTER'S ONLINE DICTIONARY THE ROSETTA EDITION
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Note added at 10 mins (2005-07-15 07:48:53 GMT)
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Check out these definitions,too, from CAMBRIDGE DICTIONARY
Definition
engine [Show phonetics]
noun [C]
1 a machine that uses the energy from liquid fuel or steam to produce movement:
a jet engine
a car engine
My car\'s been having engine trouble recently.
See picture .
2 (ALSO locomotive) the part of a railway train that pulls it along
Definition
motor (DEVICE) [Show phonetics]
noun [C]
a device that changes electricity or fuel into movement and makes a machine work:
The pump is powered by a small electric motor.
Our washing machine needs a new motor.
MAINLY US I\'ve had a new motor (= engine) put in my car.
(from Cambridge Advanced Learner\'s Dictionary)
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Note added at 24 mins (2005-07-15 08:03:31 GMT)
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I think with \"motor\" the emphasis lies primarily on movement,motion and productio of mechanical energy, while \"engine\" implies a motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work and it needs fuel.
See this, too:
motor
1. Something, such as a machine or an engine, that produces or imparts motion. 2. A device that converts any form of energy into mechanical energy, especially an internal-combustion engine or an arrangement of coils and magnets that converts electric current into mechanical power. 3. A motor vehicle, especially an automobile: (The American Heritage Dictionary
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
juvera
33 mins
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thank you!
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| agree |
Terry Gilman
: for a parts list, the electricity vs liquid fuel aspect
42 mins
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thank you!
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+3
45 mins
(electric) motor, (combustion) engine
Colloquially interchangeable, but the source of power is different: motors = electric motors, engines = combustion engines.
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Note added at 57 mins (2005-07-15 08:36:19 GMT)
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Perhaps I should say *largely* interchangeable.
My first translating job was in a factory for machinery equipped with 3-phase AC motors, for example, which is how I was introduced to the difference.
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Note added at 57 mins (2005-07-15 08:36:19 GMT)
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Perhaps I should say *largely* interchangeable.
My first translating job was in a factory for machinery equipped with 3-phase AC motors, for example, which is how I was introduced to the difference.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
flipendo
9 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Cilian O'Tuama
: tricky one, quite fuzzy. We talk of motor vehicles, and not engine vehicles
20 mins
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Yes, and my uncle's motor boat always had a cantankerous engine
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| neutral |
Tony M
: To be honest, I'd say 'rarely' interchangeable, at least in BE. There's an instinctive 'feel' for which fits best...
20 mins
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Probably due to my anything-goes-in-AE background :-) I know I had no particular instincts about motors/engines until the diff was pointed out to me
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| agree |
AH WORD
6307 days
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Discussion