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afterburner

American  
[af-ter-bur-ner, ahf-] / ˈæf tərˌbɜr nər, ˈɑf- /

noun

  1. Aeronautics. a device placed within, or attached to the exit of, a jet-engine exhaust pipe to produce afterburning.

  2. a device for burning exhaust fumes from an internal-combustion engine, as of an automobile.


afterburner British  
/ ˈɑːftəˌbɜːnə /

noun

  1. a device in the exhaust system of an internal-combustion engine for removing or rendering harmless potentially dangerous components in the exhaust gases

  2. a system of fuel injection and combustion located behind the turbine of an aircraft jet engine to produce additional thrust

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of afterburner

First recorded in 1945–50; after + burner


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The jet blast from the afterburner can potentially damage the Reaper’s electronics, and Grynkewich said it reduced the drone operator’s ability to safely operate the aircraft.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 5, 2023

"It was quite shocking really. You do see flames called an afterburner, which they use to take off," Mr Simpson said.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2021

Greco says the Air Force planned to track afterburner takeoffs, but didn’t announce what they would do if the estimates were off.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 1, 2019

“The intercepting SU-27 made an additional pass, closing with the EP-3 and applying its afterburner while conducting a banking turn away.”

From Fox News ● Nov. 5, 2018

He heard the afterburner of the jet kick off, the plane bank to the right and fade like a sliver of light into a blue sky.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

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