Synonyms and antonyms of Engine and machine behaviour in British Thesaurus

backfire (verb)

if a car backfires, its engine makes a loud noise like an explosion

burn up ()

if a machine or vehicle burns up fuel, it uses the fuel to work

come to life ()

if something such as a machine comes to life, it begins to work

cut out ()

if an engine or machine cuts out, it suddenly stops working

cycle (noun)

a set of things that a machine does as part of a process

engagement (noun)

the action of parts of a machine when they connect with each other

fire (verb)

if an engine fires, it starts to work

flood (verb)

if you flood an engine, or if it floods, too much fuel goes into it and it will not start

go (verb)

if a machine or piece of equipment goes, it operates correctly

grind (verb)

if a machine or vehicle grinds, it moves or works slowly, noisily, and with difficulty

grind (verb)

if parts of a machine grind, or if someone grinds them, they rub together and make an unpleasant noise

idle (verb)

if an engine idles, it runs slowly and does not produce any movement

in operation ()

working in the normal way

jam (verb)

if a machine, lock, window etc jams, it does not work because something stops it from moving

jump (verb)

to work in a way that is not continuous or smooth

knock (verb)

if an engine or machine knocks, it makes noises that show it is not working correctly

malfunction (verb)

to fail to work or operate correctly

mesh (verb)

if parts of an engine or other machine mesh, they connect with each other tightly and work together

misfire (verb)

if an engine misfires, the fuel does not burn in the right way and it does not work smoothly

miss (verb)

if an engine misses, it fails to burn the fuel and loses power

mode (noun)

one of a series of ways that a machine can be made to work

on standby ()

used about a piece of electrical equipment, for example a television, that is switched on but not in use

performance (noun)

the speed and effectiveness of a machine or vehicle

pink (verb)

British if a car’s engine pinks, it makes a noise because the fuel is not burning properly

power (noun)

the ability of a machine or vehicle to operate quickly and effectively

rev (verb)

if you rev an engine, or if it revs, you press the accelerator with your foot when the vehicle is not moving in order to make the engine operate faster

roll (verb)

if a machine such as a camera rolls, it works

sense (verb)

if a machine senses a change, it notices that it is happening

splutter (verb)

informal if something such as an engine splutters, it makes a series of short noises because it is not working well

sputter (verb)

if an engine sputters, it makes noises like small explosions and seems likely to stop

stall (verb)

if a vehicle or its engine stalls, or if the driver stalls it, it suddenly stops working because not enough power is reaching the engine

take (verb)

if a piece of equipment takes something, it uses that thing in order to work

take (verb)

if a piece of equipment takes something, it is able to accept the size or weight of that thing without breaking

talk (verb)

if a machine talks to another machine, it sends information to that machine

tick over ()

if a car engine is ticking over, it is operating but the car is not moving

turn over ()

if an engine turns over, or if you turn it over, it starts or continues to operate

uptime (noun)

time when a computer or other machine is working

warm up ()

if a machine or an engine warms up, it becomes ready to be used after someone switches it on