Plain English Meaning

An airplane that has more than one engine instead of just one.

Full Definition

Describes an airplane equipped with more than one engine, typically two, used to provide power for flight.

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 must manage.