Definition
Describes an airplane equipped with more than one engine, typically two, used to provide power for flight.
Plain English
An airplane that has more than one engine instead of just one.
Context Anchor
Seen in instrument flying discussions of power control, especially when comparing power changes in single-engine and multiengine airplanes.
Derivation
From 'multi-' (Latin 'multus', meaning many) and 'engine'. Literally 'many engines'.
Why Pilots Care
Multiengine airplanes have different power management, performance characteristics, and emergency procedures than single-engine aircraft. Power changes affect yaw and trim differently, and an engine failure introduces asymmetric thrust the pilot must manage.
Intuition Check
Do not read multiengine as meaning “many engines.” In aviation, it simply means two or more engines.
Example Sentence 1
In a multiengine airplane, the pilot adjusts the throttles together to keep both engines producing the same power.
Example Sentence 2
Engine failure procedures differ between single-engine and multiengine training.