combustion chamber

noun

: a closed space inside an engine in which fuel is burned

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Adaptive Cycle Engine: From Concept to Reality Most modern jets use turbofan engines, which squeeze air through a compressor and combustion chamber, while allowing additional air to bypass the engine core. Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 1 Mar. 2023 Nuclear thermal propulsion involves a rocket engine in which a nuclear reactor replaces the combustion chamber and burns liquid hydrogen as a fuel. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 25 Jan. 2023 Typically a spacecraft moves by igniting its fuel in a combustion chamber and expelling hot gases. Daniel Oberhaus, Wired, 3 Sep. 2020 The launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 this morning was aborted at literally the last second -- the sensors detected too high a pressure in a combustion chamber in one of the engines. Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 19 May 2012 Creating central air conditioning for the main combustion chamber—a pressure cooker suitable for Dante’s sixth level of hell—required some novel thinking. Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, 4 July 2021 The publication reports that, outside of subscale laboratory tests, the highest main combustion chamber known to full-scale, orbital-class rocketry was achieved by the Soviet Union in the 1980s with the RD-701 engine. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 21 Aug. 2020 Burning liquid hydrogen in today’s engines is still expected to require slight modifications, such as a shorter combustion chamber and better seals. IEEE Spectrum, 17 Feb. 2023 The anomaly occurred in the rocket's second-stage, the Zefiro 40, and an immediate analysis pointed to a drop in pressure in the combustion chamber of the segment. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 6 Jan. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'combustion chamber.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of combustion chamber was in 1853

Dictionary Entries Near combustion chamber

Cite this Entry

“Combustion chamber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/combustion%20chamber. Accessed 1 Apr. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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