afterburner

noun

af·​ter·​burn·​er ˈaf-tər-ˌbər-nər 

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)

Examples of afterburner in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This is an error; afterburners were primarily used for takeoff. —Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, 29 Mar. 2024

The legacy business, in his view, was on the brink of a breakout, with the dot-com component sure to fire up the afterburners. —Neal B. Freeman, National Review, 3 June 2024

Leroy Sané turned on the afterburners and raced into the box before being clumsily brought down by William Saliba. —Ben Church, CNN, 9 Apr. 2024

Enlarge / British Airways Aerospatiale BAC Concorde taking off with afterburners blazing. —Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 20 Dec. 2023

Word History

Etymology

afterburning "burning of combustible gases after they have left the engine" (from after- + burning, gerund of burn entry 1) + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

afterburner

noun

af·​ter·​burn·​er -ˌbər-nər 

: a burner attached to the tail pipe of a turbojet engine for forcing fuel into the hot exhaust gases and burning it to provide extra forward push