micro-engine

noun

UK /ˈmaɪ.krəʊ ˈen.dʒɪn/

US /ˈmaɪ.kroʊ ˈen.dʒɪn/

A micro-engine is a very tiny machine that makes something move or work.

The toy car runs on a micro-engine no bigger than a pea.

SYNONYMS

tiny motor miniature engine small motor micro-motor mini-motor

RELATED WORDS

microchip nanotechnology gear rotor actuator

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A small software component that drives a specific function within a larger program.

The game's physics micro-engine handles collisions smoothly.

3. A compact power unit used in model vehicles or drones.

He swapped the drone's micro-engine for a faster one.

4. A tiny device that converts energy into motion at microscopic scales.

Researchers built a micro-engine that swims through blood vessels.