Engine or motor?

An engine is powered via a thermodynamic process (burning of fossils fuels, nuclear fuels, etc).

This is why the thrusters on a rocket are called rocket engines (not rocket motors). Most have no moving parts but produce thrust by the burning of fuel and oxidizer through a nozzle.

In a nuclear power plant the reactor is the heat source for the steam engine that produces power to run the turbines which rotate the power generators.

A motor is powered by electricity.

just my $.02,

Bob

BSME (Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering)1989, University of Maryland