\Au`to*mo"bile\, n. [F.]
An automobile vehicle or mechanism; esp., a self-propelled
vehicle suitable for use on a street or roadway. Automobiles
are usually propelled by internal combustion engines (using
volatile inflammable liquids, as gasoline or petrol, alcohol,
naphtha, etc.), steam engines, or electric motors. The power
of the driving motor varies from about 4 to 50 H. P. for
ordinary vehicles, ranging from the run-about to the touring
car, up to as high as 200 H. P. for specially built racing
cars. Automobiles are also commonly, and generally in British
usage, called {motor cars}.