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Synonyms

turbo

1 American  
[tur-boh] / ˈtɜr boʊ /

noun

  • turbos
    plural
  1. turbine.

  2. Informal. turbocharger.

  3. an automobile powered by an internal-combustion engine equipped with a turbocharger.


turbo- 2 American  
  1. a combining form representing turbine in compound words.

    turbojet.


turbo- British  

combining form

  1. of, relating to, or driven by a turbine

    turbofan

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of turbo1

1655–65, in sense “tornado”; 1900–05 turbo for def. 1; in part < Latin turbō top, whirlwind, in part by shortening of turbocharged ( def. ) or turbocharger

Origin of turbo-2

turb(ine) + -o-

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:

Engine and turbo machinery manufacturer Everllence, formerly known as MAN Energy Solutions, provides propulsion, decarbonization and efficiency solutions for the maritime, energy and industrial sectors.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 25, 2026

The current power-units weigh 185kg, including the engine, turbo, electrical components and battery.

From BBC May 14, 2026

Sources say that stakeholders are open to discussing both a reduction in the amount of electrification and a change to the internal combustion engine, which is currently a 1.6-litre V6 turbo.

From BBC May 14, 2026

“Every single rep between the blue lines,” said Jim Hughes, “is a turbo rep.”

From The Wall Street Journal May 3, 2026

A whirring sound starts—like some kind of turbo jet engine—and rises to a fever pitch.

From "Warcross" by Marie Lu

In June, Ford sold more F-150 pickups with its turbo- charged V-6 than those with V-8 engines for the first time since the 1980s.

From BusinessWeek Jul. 31, 2011

Henry Zoelly, a Swiss engineer, declared that the steam locomotive is lag ging "pitifully" in scientific progress and foresaw the development of a turbo- locomotive.

From Time Magazine Archive

The issue is not hybrid engines or turbos per se; it is the lack of energy recovery possibilities.

From BBC Jul. 29, 2026

Some manufacturers definitely want turbos to stay, others are more ambivalent.

From BBC Mar. 10, 2026

Starting at $183,400, the bewinged ZR1 adds twin turbos to the 5.5-liter V8, netting a deeply unsettling 1,064 hp.

From The Wall Street Journal Dec. 18, 2025

No replacement for displacement, sure, but the lovely thing about turbos is how easily you can modify them to increase engine power and even improve fuel economy.

From The Verge May 3, 2022

The door was closed, and the Terrans braced themselves under the low roof as the engine started up with a whine of worn turbos.

From The Yillian Way by Keith Laumer

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