What's the difference between an "engine" and a "motor"? Are these terms interchangeable? Or is there some nuance that makes each terms usage more accurate?
if you want to get technical about it, a motor is anything that imparts motion. Literally, a "mover".
A motor can be something as simple as a nozzle and fuel. (model rocket motor). It doesn't need moving parts.
The word engine came from ingenium (same root as ingenuity). Early engines were mechanical devices like catapults, trebuchets and battering rams. To me, it suggests at least a few interconnected moving parts.
So the thing propelling a modern car fits the definition of both motor and engine.
Fascinating. Thank you.
The combustion engine: Can be called engine or motor. Ex: Internal Combustion Engine. Internal Combustion Motor. Both make sense.
All the others in the car: Motor. Ex: Windshield wiper motor makes sense. Windshield wiper engine doesn't.
I'd say anything electrical, call it a motor. Anything combustion: Call it either or.
Internal combustion engine, internal combustion motor; same thing. Electric engine, electric motor; same thing.
The only difference I can tell is in reference to Internal Combustion and Electric.
Internal Combustion is associated with Engine.
Electric is associated with Motor.
It's sort of like this, if you're from the Midwest, you call it Pop. If your from the West coast, you call it soda. If your from back East, you call it soda pop. Also, when you're in California, you call it a Camper Shell, if you're in Oregon, you call it a Canopy. Same, same.
I remember someone who had been in Brasil, told me there is word (I forgot which one) which is totally acceptable in usual talking in one region, while it is meant as an insult in another region.
There in Europe there are some words which have different meanings in different languages.
