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

But that scenario seems far less likely and immensely less taxing than City of Troy just reaching over to the dash and flicking on his afterburners, as his daddy so often did. —Guy Martin, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024

Nowhere is this more prominent than at the rear, where red LED brake lights frame the exits of two huge Venturi tunnels, reminiscent of a fighter jet’s afterburners and each illuminated from within by further LEDs. —Alistair Charlton, WIRED, 11 Aug. 2019

Quinn Ewers needed backup on Saturday, and Arch Manning turned on the afterburners! —Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 16 Sep. 2024

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

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