Engineer

/ˌɛn.dʒɪˈnɪər/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A person who designs, builds, or maintains engines, machines, or structures.

The engineer presented his design for the new bridge to the city council.

A person who is skilled in the principles and practices of engineering.

She is an electrical engineer specializing in renewable energy systems.

A person who operates an engine, especially a locomotive.

The train engineer assured passengers that they would arrive on time.

verb

To design or create in a skillful or artful manner.

They engineer solutions to complex technical problems.

To influence or manipulate a situation or outcome in a careful and calculated way.

He managed to engineer a meeting between the two rival companies.

From Latin 'ingeniator' meaning 'to devise', from 'ingenium' meaning 'cleverness, invention'.

software engineer

A professional who applies engineering principles to software development.

civil engineer

An engineer specialized in the design and construction of public works like bridges and roads.

mechanical engineer

An engineer who designs and manufactures mechanical systems.

engineering

The application of scientific and mathematical knowledge to create and maintain structures, machines, and processes.

engineered

Something that has been designed or constructed with skill.

engineer-in-training

A recent engineering graduate who is pursuing licensure as a professional engineer.

To cleverly manipulate or arrange something.

He managed to engineer a way to get the project approved.

To influence outcomes in a skillful, often indirect manner.

She knows how to engineer her social life to meet influential people.