afterburning

[ af-ter-bur-ning, ahf- ]
/ ˈæf tərˌbɜr nɪŋ, ˈɑf- /

noun

Aeronautics. combustion in an afterburner that results from the injection of fuel into the exhaust gases of a jet engine to produce additional thrust with more efficient fuel consumption.
Rocketry. an irregular burning of residual fuel in some rocket motors after the cessation of the main burning.

QUIZZES

FOR POSTERITY’S SAKE, TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Are words your bailiwick? Take the latest quiz on the words from July 6 to July 12 to find out.
Question 1 of 7
bailiwick
a creature, variously described as a serpent, lizard, or dragon, said to kill by its breath or look.
place or source of origin.
a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of afterburning

1885–90; after + burning, translation of German Nachbrennen

Words nearby afterburning

afterbeat, afterbirth, afterbody, afterbrain, afterburner, afterburning, aftercare, aftercast, afterclap, aftercooler, afterdamp
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for afterburning

afterburning
/ (ˈɑːftəˌbɜːnɪŋ) /

noun

Also called: reheat a process in which additional fuel is ignited in the exhaust gases of a jet engine to produce additional thrust
irregular burning of fuel in a rocket motor after the main burning has ceased
persistence of combustion in an internal-combustion engine, either in an incorrect part of the cycle or after the ignition has been switched off
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