engineer
意味一覧 (3件)
技術者
解説 Definition
engineer は、機械・電気・建築・ITなどの専門技術を使って、ものや仕組みを作り、直し、動かす人を指す名詞です。日本語の「技師」「エンジニア」に近く、技術職を広く表す基本語です。
An engineer is a person who uses technical knowledge to design, build, fix, or operate machines, systems, or structures. The word can refer to people in many fields, such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, construction, and software. It is a broad and basic word for someone whose work is practical and technical. Compared with a scientist, an engineer usually sounds more focused on creating or improving things that work in real life.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
engineer は engine「エンジン」を扱う人、という出発点で覚えると自然です。今はエンジンに限らず、工場設備、建物、コンピューターなど「動く仕組み」を支える人に広がっています。初級では「技術の専門家」という大きな枠で押さえれば十分です。repairman のような修理専門より広く、scientist のような研究者より実用的な響きがあります。
A simple way to remember engineer is to start with engine, so an engineer is a person who works with engines or other working systems. Today, the word is much broader and includes people who deal with buildings, factory equipment, computers, and many kinds of technology. For basic learning, it is enough to remember engineer as a technical expert who makes things work.
例文
My brother works as an engineer at a car company.
私の兄は自動車会社で技師として働いています。
The engineer checked the bridge carefully before it was opened to the public.
その技師は橋が一般公開される前に注意深く点検しました。
She became a software engineer because she enjoyed solving technical problems.
彼女は技術的な問題を解くのが好きで、ソフトウェア技師になりました。
画策する
(意味 2)解説 Definition
ある結果を実現するために、方法を考えて人や状況をうまく動かし、巧みに仕組むことを表します。中立的にも使えますが、秘密裏・策略的という含みを帯びることが多い語です。
As a verb, engineer means to carefully plan and arrange events so that a particular result happens. It often suggests that someone skillfully manages people or situations behind the scenes rather than acting openly. The word can be neutral, but it often has a secret or slightly scheming nuance.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
engineerはengine「機関・技術者」と同根で、本来は仕組みを作る人の発想から来ます。動詞では機械を設計する意味に加え、状況や結果を巧みに仕組んで「画策する」となります。engineer a dealやengineer a coupのように、planより計算高く、manipulateより中立にも使えるのが特徴です。
Water means liquid, and down can suggest that strength or intensity becomes lower. If you add water to strong juice, soup, chemicals, or paint, the taste, color, or concentration becomes weaker, so water down is easy to remember as make thinner with water. Dilute is a more general and scientific word, but water down clearly shows the image of actually adding water. You can also see it in forms like watered-down juice, which describes the weaker result.
例文
She engineered a meeting between the two companies to push the deal forward.
彼女は契約を前に進めるために、両社の会談を画策した。
The group was accused of engineering a political scandal for its own benefit.
その団体は、自分たちの利益のために政治スキャンダルを画策したと非難された。
He quietly engineered a situation in which his rival would lose support.
彼はライバルが支持を失うような状況をひそかに画策した。
設計する
(意味 3)解説 Definition
engineer は動詞で、技術的な知識や工夫によって、機械・システム・解決策などを設計し実現することを表す。単に作るだけでなく、制約や問題を踏まえて機能する形に仕上げる含みがある。
To engineer something means to carefully design, plan, and build it, especially when it is technical or complex. It is often used for machines, systems, and practical solutions. It can also mean to arrange a result in a skillful and deliberate way.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
動詞 engineer は、名詞 engineer「技師」が行う作業をそのまま動作にした語です。make より計画性と専門性が強く、design よりも「現実に動くよう調整する」感じが出ます。engineer a solution なら、問題に対して工夫を重ねて実行可能な解決策を作ること。比喩的に、結果や状況を巧みに仕組む意味にも伸びますが、ここでは技術的に設計する用法を中心に覚えましょう。
Think of an engineer building something that must work under real conditions. As a verb, engineer is stronger than just plan or design: it suggests carefully creating a bridge, system, or solution so it actually works. You can also remember engineer an outcome: someone sets things up skillfully to make that result happen.
例文
The team will engineer a new solution for the problem.
チームは問題に対する新しい解決策を設計する。
Engineers engineered the bridge so it could withstand earthquakes.
エンジニアたちは地震に耐えるようにその橋を設計した。
They engineered a system that reduces energy consumption.
彼らはエネルギー消費を削減するシステムを設計した。
engineer の語源・成り立ち Etymology
engineer は engine「機械・機関」に、人を表す -eer が付いた語。engine はラテン語 ingenium「才能・工夫」に由来し、技術を扱う人の意味へ広がりました。
Engineer comes from engine, with the ending -eer meaning a person connected with something. Engine ultimately goes back to the Latin word ingenium, meaning natural talent or clever invention. Over time, engineer developed into the meaning of a person who works with machines, systems, and technical design.
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