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The original was posted on /r/explainlikeimfive by /u/DeepSeater on 2023-08-11 19:19:44.

I’ve heard these words used interchangeably over the years, with engine being more prevalent. Is there any difference? Why is a small gas-driven device like a lawnmower commonly said to have a motor, while what is under the hood of a car is almost always referred to as an engine?