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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Engineering \En`gi*neer"ing\, n.
Originally, the art of managing engines; in its modern and
extended sense, the art and science by which the properties
of matter are made useful to man, whether in structures,
machines, chemical substances, or living organisms; the
occupation and work of an engineer. In the modern sense, the
application of mathematics or systematic knowledge beyond the
routine skills of practise, for the design of any complex
system which performs useful functions, may be considered as
engineering, including such abstract tasks as designing
software ({software engineering}).
[1913 Webster PJC]

Note: In a comprehensive sense, engineering includes
architecture as a mechanical art, in distinction from
architecture as a fine art. It was formerly divided
into military engineering, which is the art of
designing and constructing offensive and defensive
works, and civil engineering, in a broad sense, as
relating to other kinds of public works, machinery,
etc.

{Civil engineering}, in modern usage, is strictly the art of
planning, laying out, and constructing fixed public works,
such as railroads, highways, canals, aqueducts, water
works, bridges, lighthouses, docks, embankments,
breakwaters, dams, tunnels, etc.

{Mechanical engineering} relates to machinery, such as steam
engines, machine tools, mill work, etc.

{Mining engineering} deals with the excavation and working of
mines, and the extraction of metals from their ores, etc.
Engineering is further divided into steam engineering, gas
engineering, agricultural engineering, topographical
engineering, electrical engineering, etc.
[1913 Webster]


Engineer \En`gi*neer"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Engineered}; p. pr.
& vb. n. {Engineering}.]
1. To lay out or construct, as an engineer; to perform the
work of an engineer on; as, to engineer a road. --J.
Hamilton.
[1913 Webster]

2. To use contrivance and effort for; to guide the course of;
to manage; as, to engineer a bill through Congress.
[Colloq.]
[1913 Webster] Engineer Corps