Phrase guide

engine block

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The metal structure (traditionally and usually a casting) that contains the cylinders of a piston engine.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Without any antifreeze in the coolant, the coolant froze, causing the engine block to crack.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cylinder block

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: block

2

noun

Meaning 2

a metal casting containing the cylinders and cooling ducts of an engine

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the engine had to be replaced because the block was cracked

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cylinder block, block

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: cast, casting

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

15 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: bloc motor — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Chinese Mandarin: 氣缸體 /气缸体 (qìgāngtǐ) — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Dutch: motorblok — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Finnish: sylinterilohko — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • French: bloc-moteur — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • French: bloc-cylindres — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • German: Motorblock — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Khmer: ប្លុកម៉ាស៊ីន (plok maasiin) — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Korean: 실린더 블록 (sillindeo beullok) — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Polish: blok — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Romanian: bloc motor — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Russian: блок дви́гателя (blok dvígatelja) — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Russian: блок цили́ндра (blok cilíndra) — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Spanish: bloque del motor — component containing cylinders of piston engine
  • Swedish: motorblock — component containing cylinders of piston engine