Fe
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Iron |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Science & Engineering, Education & Academia, Transportation & Travel |
| Also written | FE |
Fe has four meanings. The most common are Iron (chemical element) and Fundamentals of Engineering (exam) (engineering); it can also stand for Further education and Flight engineer.
Meanings of Fe at a glance
| # | Fe stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iron | Science & Engineering › Chemical Element |
| 2 | Fundamentals of Engineering (exam) | Science & Engineering › Engineering |
| 3 | Further education | Education & Academia › Academic |
| 4 | Flight engineer | Transportation & Travel › Aviation |
1. Iron
Science & Engineering · Chemical Element Abbreviations
Iron (atomic number 26) is by far the most used metal, mainly as steel, an alloy of iron with a little carbon. By mass it is the most abundant element on Earth as a whole, concentrated in the planet's molten outer core and solid inner core. In blood, iron at the heart of hemoglobin carries oxygen.
Example: Most iron meteorites are about 90% Fe, with the remainder mostly nickel.
The symbol comes from Latin ferrum, which also gives the words ferrous, ferric and ferrite; the English word iron descends from Old English isern. Iron smelting spread widely around 1200 BCE, the conventional start of the Iron Age in the Near East. In massive stars, fusion builds elements up to the iron group and then stops releasing energy, so iron accumulates in stellar cores before they collapse.
2. Fundamentals of Engineering (exam) (FE)
Science & Engineering · Engineering Abbreviations · also used in education
First of two exams for US professional engineering licensure, administered by NCEES as a computer-based test covering mathematics, ethics and discipline-specific topics such as civil, mechanical, electrical or chemical engineering. Passing it earns EIT or EI status.
Example: The FE exam has about 110 questions and is taken at approved testing centers year-round.
Examinees use an NCEES reference handbook supplied on screen rather than their own notes. Many engineering schools encourage seniors to sit the FE exam before graduating. The second exam, the PE, is taken after several years of experience.
3. Further education (FE)
Education & Academia · Academic Abbreviations
British term for education after age 16 that is not university study, including A levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships and adult learning, typically delivered in further education colleges and sixth-form colleges.
Example: She took her BTEC in engineering at the local FE college before starting an apprenticeship.
FE colleges in England also deliver some higher education, such as HNDs and foundation degrees. The term has no exact American equivalent; community colleges cover similar ground. In engineering, FE refers to the Fundamentals of Engineering exam.
4. Flight engineer (FE)
Transportation & Travel · Aviation Abbreviations
Third crew member on older large aircraft such as the Boeing 727, early 747 models and the DC-10, responsible for monitoring and managing engines, fuel, hydraulics, electrics and pressurization from a side panel. Cockpit automation made the position obsolete on new airliners from the 1980s onward.
Example: My grandfather spent ten years as an FE on Pan Am 747s before upgrading to the right seat.
Some airlines called the position "second officer." A 1981 US presidential task force concluded that two-pilot cockpits were safe, clearing the way for two-crew designs such as the Boeing 757 and 767. The FAA still issues flight engineer certificates for the dwindling number of three-crew aircraft, mostly older freighters.
Related abbreviations
More chemical element abbreviations
- Er – Erbium
- Es – Einsteinium
- Eu – Europium
- F – Fluorine
- Fl – Flerovium
- Fm – Fermium
- Fr – Francium
- Ga – Gallium
See all 118 chemical element abbreviations →