[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

engineering \en`gineer"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
see also:
software engineering civil engineering mechanical engineering mining engineering 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

civil \civ"il\, a. l. civilis, fr. civis citizen: cf. f. civil.
   see city.
   1. pertaining to a city or state, or to a citizen in his
      relations to his fellow citizens or to the state; within
      the city or state.
      1913 webster

   2. subject to government; reduced to order; civilized; not
      barbarous; -- said of the community.
      1913 webster

            england was very rude and barbarous; for it is but
            even the other day since england grew civil.
                                                  --spenser.
      1913 webster

   3. performing the duties of a citizen; obedient to
      government; -- said of an individual.
      1913 webster

            civil men come nearer the saints of god than others;
            they come within a step or two of heaven. --preston
      1913 webster

   4. having the manners of one dwelling in a city, as opposed
      to those of savages or rustics; polite; courteous;
      complaisant; affable.
      1913 webster

   note: "a civil man now is one observant of slight external
         courtesies in the mutual intercourse between man and
         man; a civil man once was one who fulfilled all the
         duties and obligations flowing from his position as a
         'civis' and his relations to the other members of that
         'civitas.'" --trench
         1913 webster

   5. pertaining to civic life and affairs, in distinction from
      military, ecclesiastical, or official state.
      1913 webster

   6. relating to rights and remedies sought by action or suit
      distinct from criminal proceedings.
      1913 webster

   civil action, an action to enforce the rights or redress
      the wrongs of an individual, not involving a criminal
      proceeding.

   civil architecture, the architecture which is employed in
      constructing buildings for the purposes of civil life, in
      distinction from military and naval architecture, as
      private houses, palaces, churches, etc.

   civil death. law. see under death.

   civil engineering. see under engineering.

   civil law. see under law.

   civil list. see under list.

   civil remedy law, that given to a person injured, by
      action, as opposed to a criminal prosecution.

   civil service, all service rendered to and paid for by the
      state or nation other than that pertaining to naval or
      military affairs.

   civil service reform, the substitution of business
      principles and methods for the spoils system in the
      conduct of the civil service, esp. in the matter of
      appointments to office.

   civil state, the whole body of the laity or citizens not
      included under the military, maritime, and ecclesiastical
      states.

   civil suit. same as civil action.

   civil war. see under war.

   civil year. see under year.
      1913 webster
see also:
city civil action civil architecture civil death death civil engineering 
engineering civil law law civil list list 
civil remedy civil service civil service reform civil state civil suit 
civil war war civil year year 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

civil engineering
     n : the branch of engineering concerned with the design and
         construction of such public works as dams or bridges

Civil >> C Words
Civil, definition of term: Civil
civil_pag1.html

Civil Servant >> C Words
Civil Servant, definition of term: Civil Servant
civil+servant_pag1.html

Civil Rights >> C Words
Civil Rights, definition of term: Civil Rights
civil+rights_pag1.html

Civil Right >> C Words
Civil Right, definition of term: Civil Right
civil+right_pag1.html

Civil Service >> C Words
Civil Service, definition of term: Civil Service
civil+service_pag1.html

Civil Suit >> C Words
Civil Suit, definition of term: Civil Suit
civil+suit_pag1.html

Civil Wrong >> C Words
Civil Wrong, definition of term: Civil Wrong
civil+wrong_pag1.html

Civil War >> C Words
Civil War, definition of term: Civil War
civil+war_pag1.html

Civil Marriage >> C Words
Civil Marriage, definition of term: Civil Marriage
civil+marriage_pag1.html

Civil Law >> C Words
Civil Law, definition of term: Civil Law
civil+law_pag1.html

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