der Hubraum, ¨-e
displacement
Der Raum in einem Motor, in dem Luft und Kraftstoff bewegt und verbrannt werden. Er zeigt, wie groß der Motor innen ist.
Definition & meaning
Hubraum means engine displacement: the total volume swept by all the pistons inside an internal-combustion engine during one complete stroke. It is usually measured in litres or cubic centimetres.
For example:
- A 2.0-litre engine has a Hubraum of approximately 2,000 cm³.
- A larger Hubraum often allows an engine to produce more torque and power, although performance also depends on factors such as turbocharging, engine design, and tuning.
The word is mainly used for cars, motorcycles, and other combustion engines. It does not directly mean horsepower.
Grammar & Word origin
- Gender: masculine: der Hubraum
- Plural: die Hubräume
- Compound: Hub + Raum
- Hub refers to the distance travelled by a piston between its two extreme positions.
- Raum means “space” or “volume.”
The compound therefore literally refers to the volume associated with the piston’s movement.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- Motorhubraum — a more explicit technical term meaning “engine displacement”; it emphasizes that the volume belongs to an engine.
- Zylinderhubraum — refers specifically to the displacement of a cylinder, or sometimes the combined displacement of all cylinders.
In everyday German, Hubraum is the most common term.
There is no exact antonym for Hubraum, because it describes a measurable engine property. In comparisons, a smaller displacement can be expressed with:
Common phrases & collocations
- ein Hubraum von zwei Litern — a displacement of two litres
- der Hubraum eines Motors — the displacement of an engine
- ein Motor mit großem Hubraum — an engine with a large displacement
- kleiner Hubraum — small engine displacement
- Hubraum und Leistung — engine displacement and power
- Hubraumklasse — engine-displacement class, especially in vehicle classification or motorsports
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Examples
Der Motor hat viel Hubraum.noun
The engine has a lot of displacement.
Bei hohen Drehzahlen verbraucht der Motor mit großem Hubraum mehr Kraftstoff.noun
At high engine speeds, the engine with large displacement consumes more fuel.
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