turbine

IPA/ˈtɜːbaɪn/
KK[tˈɚbaɪn]IPA/ˈtɜːrbaɪn/

turbine — noun

  • turbinesingular
  • turbinesplural

1. a machine whose blades spin when a flowing substance such as water, hot gas, or

1.nounB2
Definition

a machine whose blades spin when a flowing substance such as water, hot gas, or compressed air pushes through it, turning the movement into usable power

Example

The wind farm has twelve turbines that generate enough electricity for nearby villages.

compound noun: wind turbine

Steam turbines in the power plant spin to produce energy for the city.

compound noun: steam turbine

Common collocations
  • wind turbine
  • gas turbine
  • steam turbine
  • water turbine
  • turbine blade
  • turbine engine
  • spin
  • rotate
  • generate
  • install
  • maintain
Synonyms
  • engine

    an engine usually burns fuel to produce motion, while a turbine is driven by an external flow of fluid

  • generator

    a generator converts mechanical rotation into electricity; turbines often drive generators but are not the same device

  • rotor

    a rotor is the rotating part inside a turbine or other machine, not the whole assembly

Usage Note

Commonly combined with the source of driving fluid to form a compound noun: wind turbine, gas turbine, steam turbine, or water turbine.

Common Mistakes

The wind motor generates electricity for the town.
The wind turbine generates electricity for the town.
turbines are driven by a moving fluid, while motors convert electricity into motion.

Word family

  • turbo
    adjectiveC1
  • turbofan
    nounC1
  • turboprop
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A turbine, an engine, a generator, a motor, and a rotor all relate to mechanical energy, but each does something different. A turbine is driven by a moving fluid (water, steam, or air) that pushes blades to produce rotation. An engine typically burns fuel inside its chambers to create motion — a car engine is a common example. A generator converts rotation into electricity, which is why turbines often turn generators inside power plants. A motor does the opposite: it uses electricity to create movement. A rotor refers specifically to the spinning part inside a turbine, motor, or generator, not the whole machine. For example: “The wind turbine turns a generator to power the grid” is correct, but calling it a “wind engine” or “wind motor” would be misleading.

engine ↗generator ↗motor ↗rotor

Common collocations

Nouns

  • wind turbine
  • gas turbine
  • steam turbine
  • water turbine
  • turbine blade
  • turbine engine

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'turbine' comes from the Latin 'turbo', meaning a spinning top or a whirlwind. It entered English in the 1800s from French 'turbine', used for the first modern water-driven power machines.