Afterburner

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A device used in some jet engines to provide additional thrust by igniting unburned fuel in the exhaust stream; it enhances propulsion for supersonic flight and is integral to military aircraft performance
2. An apparatus found in various aircraft that burns residual fuel post-combustion to increase thrust output; it plays a crucial role in achieving higher speeds during flight operations
3. A component in certain propulsion systems that allows for increased fuel combustion after the main engine cycle, thereby offering enhanced speed and maneuverability during aerial missions

Etymology: The afterburner is a jet engine component that injects extra fuel into the hot exhaust stream behind the turbine, briefly boosting thrust. Its name is a plain compound: "after-" meaning behind or following, joined to "burner," the device that burns fuel. The "after" half goes back to an Old English word, "æfter," which meant behind in place or time, and it has been part of English all the way down. The idea is literal. Fuel is ignited after the main combustion chamber, in the stretch of exhaust that has already passed through the turbine, so the burning happens behind the engine's core rather than inside it. A burner in this sense is simply something that burns fuel, and the compound says exactly where that burning takes place.

Synonyms: afterburn, thrust augmenter