turbine

top: impulse turbine

bottom: reaction turbine

tur·bine

(tûr′bĭn, -bīn′)

Any of various machines in which the kinetic energy of a moving fluid is converted to mechanical power by the impulse or reaction of the fluid with a series of buckets, paddles, or blades arrayed about the circumference of a wheel or cylinder.

[French, from Latin turbō, turbin-, spinning top, perhaps from Greek turbē, turmoil.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

turbine

(ˈtɜːbɪn; -baɪn)

(Mechanical Engineering) any of various types of machine in which the kinetic energy of a moving fluid is converted into mechanical energy by causing a bladed rotor to rotate. The moving fluid may be water, steam, air, or combustion products of a fuel. See also reaction turbine, impulse turbine, gas turbine

[C19: from French, from Latin turbō whirlwind, from turbāre to throw into confusion]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

tur•bine

(ˈtɜr bɪn, -baɪn)

n.

any of various machines having a rotor, usu. with vanes or blades, driven by the pressure or thrust of a moving fluid, as steam, water, hot gases, or air, either in the form of free jets or as a fluid filling a housing around the rotor.

[1815–25; < French < Latin turbin-, s. of turbō top, spindle, whirlwind; akin to turbid]

turbine

An impulse turbine (top) rotates when the force of a stream of water hits cup-shaped buckets that are mounted around the perimeter of a rotor. In a reaction turbine (bottom), the pressure of the water being discharged from the nozzle forces the turbine to rotate in the direction opposite to the water's motion.

tur·bine

(tûr′bĭn, tûr′bīn′)

Any of various machines in which the kinetic energy of a moving fluid, such as water, steam, or gas, is converted to rotary motion.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

turbine

- Came from Latin turbo, "whirl, whirling thing."

See also related terms for whirl.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

turbine - rotary engine in which the kinetic energy of a moving fluid is converted into mechanical energy by causing a bladed rotor to rotate

vane, blade - flat surface that rotates and pushes against air or water

gas turbine - turbine that converts the chemical energy of a liquid fuel into mechanical energy by internal combustion; gaseous products of the fuel (which is burned in compressed air) are expanded through a turbine

hydroelectric turbine - turbine consisting of a large and efficient version of a water wheel used to drive an electric generator

impulse turbine - a turbine that is driven by jets direct against the blades

reaction turbine - a turbine with blades arranged to develop torque from gradual decrease of steam pressure from inlet to exhaust

rotary engine - an internal-combustion engine in which power is transmitted directly to rotating components

rotor, rotor coil - the rotating armature of a motor or generator

stator, stator coil - mechanical device consisting of the stationary part of a motor or generator in or around which the rotor revolves

steam turbine - turbine in which steam strikes blades and makes them turn

wind turbine - a turbine that is driven by the wind

Translations

مُحَرِّك بُخاري أو مائي

turbína

turbine

Turbine

turbiini

turbine

turbina

túrbína, hverfill

turbina

タービン

turbina

turbīna

turbína

turbine

[ˈtɜːbaɪn] N → turbina f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

turbine

[ˈtɜː^rbaɪn] n → turbine f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

turbine

n → Turbine f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

turbine

[ˈtɜːbaɪn] n → turbina

turbine

(ˈtəːbain) noun

a type of motor, operated by the action of water, steam, gas etc. a steam turbine.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

There was some talk about turbine engines, direct application of steam, and the absence of pistons, rods, and cranks,--all of which was beyond me, for I was familiar only with sailing craft; but I did understand the last words of the engineer.

View in context

The midships engine, generally used as a reinforce, is not running; so the port and starboard turbine vacuum-chambers draw direct into the return-mains.

We have made eight thousand feet since we pithed the tramp and our turbines are giving us an honest two hundred and ten knots.

Our turbines scream shrilly; the propellers cannot bite on the thin air; Tim shunts the lift out of five tanks at once and by sheer weight drives her bullet wise through the maelstrom till she cushions with jar on an up-gust, three thousand feet below.

In ten seconds the coach with its clerks clashed down to the receiving-caisson; the hostlers displaced the engineers at the idle turbines, and Tim, prouder of this than all, introduced me to the maiden of the photograph on the shelf.

The hum of the turbines and the boom of the air on our skin is no more than a cotton-wool wrapping to the universal stillness.

View in context

And it is as much a world's wonder, to men and women of imagination, as the steel mills of Homestead or the turbine leviathans that curve across the Atlantic Ocean in four and a half days.

View in context

[3.] Further Evidence of the Effects of Wind Turbine Farms on AD RADARS, Air Warfare Center, Royal Air Force, UK, Aug.

A STUDY OF RADAR FEATURES OF WIND TURBINES IN THE HF BAND

Cleaner, cheaper energy is the goal for Boro which will be the first major football club and sports venue to use a wind turbine to become self-sustainable for electricity use.

Boro turbine in safety row; Airport concerned of radar issues

4 YOUR home's location will determine how useful a wind turbine will be there.

Make bills a breeze; Wind power could be key to cutting electricity bills and making your home greener, but not all homes can harness it successfully, says JULIA GRAY

The turbine lights two light emitting diodes(LEDs) which consumes only 36 watts per hour against 500 watts/ hour by bulbs.

Wind on roads to light bulbs

The new turbine information is part of a USGS project to assess how wind energy influences wildlife throughout the United States.

A national map of wind farms