turbo
1 Americannoun
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turbos
plural
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Informal. turbocharger.
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an automobile powered by an internal-combustion engine equipped with a turbocharger.
combining form
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
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
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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
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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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.