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)
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Recent Examples of afterburner from the Web
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Breedlove speaks almost bashfully when reminded of Noble's threat, reminding you of his own big stick: a 44-foot vehicle with a J-79 General Electric jet engine (with afterburner) from a Navy F-4 Phantom fighter aircraft.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'afterburner'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
1947
First Known Use of afterburner
1947
Learn More about afterburner
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about afterburner
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