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

---

Etymology

Origin of afterburner

First recorded in 1945–50; after + burner

Example Sentences

Parks and Blea flipped on their afterburners and went through a series of tight turns to avoid being downed over the mountainous terrain.

From The Wall Street Journal

He dominates not by stamping his authority on the first lap, but rather by measuring his effort, ignoring his opponent’s lead, and waiting for just the right moment to flick on the afterburners.

From The Wall Street Journal

Rams safety Quentin Lake said the down times this season, the frustration of losing those close games, “gave us the experience and confidence” to turn on the afterburners now.

From Los Angeles Times

Worthy often receives quick, flat passes from Mahomes to get him into space on the outside, where he can turn on the afterburners and cause real problems.

From BBC

Field rounded it all off by turning on the afterburners to run around a flagging Leigh defence to enable Keighran to add his seventh successful kick.

From BBC