carburetor

noun

car·​bu·​re·​tor ˈkär-bə-ˌrā-tər 

-byə-

: a mechanical apparatus for premixing vaporized fuel and air in proper proportions and supplying the mixture to an internal combustion engine

Examples of carburetor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tip the lawn mower onto its side to access the blade, ensuring the air filter and carburetor face upward. —Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 2 June 2026

Most of the work is replacing a faulty carburetor, usually because the owner left gas inside the mower all winter. —Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 29 May 2026

Lord tinkers and consults with a fellow mechanic on the phone, and the carburetor that appeared to be the culprit. —Noel Brennan, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

Anything with a carburetor, anything with old rubber, primitive rubber, ethanol can leave like a varnish behind and gum up carburetors very easily. —Kyle Cheromcha, The Drive, 1 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for carburetor

• activator
• actuator
• agitator
• alligator
• allocator
• alternator
• animator
• annotator
• applicator
• arbitrator
• aspirator
• aviator

Kids Definition

carburetor

noun

car·​bu·​re·​tor ˈkär-b(y)ə-ˌrāt-ər 

: the part of an engine in which fuel (as gasoline) is mixed with air to make it burn easily