diesel-electric

US: (dē′zəl i lek′trik, -səl-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

die•sel-e•lec•tric  (dē′zəl i lek′trik, -səl-), adj. 

1. Mechanical Engineering having an electric motor powered directly by an electric generator or by batteries charged by the generator, with the generator being driven by a diesel engine:
   a diesel-electric locomotive.

Also, Die′sel-e•lec′tric. 

• 1920–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

diesel-electric noun

1. a locomotive fitted with a diesel engine driving an electric generator that feeds electric traction motors

adjective

1. of or relating to such a locomotive or system