heat engine

heat engine

n.

A device that converts heat energy into work.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

heat engine - any engine that makes use of heat to do work engine - motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work external-combustion engine - a heat engine in which ignition occurs outside the chamber (cylinder or turbine) in which heat is converted to mechanical energy internal-combustion engine, ICE - a heat engine in which combustion occurs inside the engine rather than in a separate furnace; heat expands a gas that either moves a piston or turns a gas turbine