afterburner

af·ter·burn·er

noun \-ˌbər-nər\

Definition of AFTERBURNER

1

: a device incorporated into the tailpipe of a turbojet engine for injecting fuel into the hot exhaust gases and burning it to provide extra thrust

2

: a device for burning or catalytically destroying unburned or partially burned carbon compounds in exhaust (as from an automobile)

First Known Use of AFTERBURNER

1947

afterburner

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Second combustion chamber in a turbojet or turbofan engine, immediately in front of the engine's exhaust nozzle. The injection and combustion of extra fuel in this chamber provide additional thrust for takeoff or supersonic flight; in most cases, the afterburner can nearly double the thrust of a turbojet engine. The jet nozzle must be larger when using the afterburner, so an automatic, adjustable nozzle is an essential component of the afterburner system. Because the afterburner sharply increases fuel consumption and is generally less effective at subsonic speeds, its use is usually restricted to supersonic military aircraft.