WordGarden.iocarburetor
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /kˌɑːbərˈɛtə/
US
- /ˈkɑrbərˌeɪtər/
Meanings
Noun
a device in an engine that mixes fuel with air
Beyond the definition
Imagine an engine trying to run on just air – it wouldn't get very far! A carburetor is a clever device, mostly found in older engines (like those in classic cars, motorcycles, or lawnmowers), that mixes the right amount of gasoline with air. This mixture then gets sent into the engine's cylinders, where it ignites and burns to create power. Think of it like a tiny chef carefully combining ingredients before sending them to the oven!
While modern cars mostly use fuel injection systems now, carburetors were the way engines got their fuel for decades. If you hear someone talking about "tuning a carburetor," they're adjusting this mixing process to make the engine run smoothly and efficiently. A poorly tuned carburetor can lead to a sputtering engine or even prevent it from starting at all!
A carburetor is a device that mixes air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. For many years, especially before the widespread adoption of fuel injection, carburetors were essential components in gasoline-powered vehicles, lawnmowers, small engines, and even some aircraft.
The basic principle behind a carburetor is relatively simple: it uses the vacuum created by the engine's intake stroke to draw fuel into the airstream. This mixture of air and fuel then enters the engine's cylinders where it combusts (burns), creating the power that drives the vehicle or machine. Carburetors have various components, including jets, floats, and valves, all working together to precisely control the air-fuel ratio under different operating conditions – like idling, acceleration, and cruising speed.
However, carburetors are less efficient and produce more emissions than modern fuel injection systems. Fuel injection meters fuel much more precisely—often into the intake ports, and in some designs directly into the cylinders—resulting in better fuel economy and reduced pollution. As a result, carburetors have largely been replaced by fuel injection in most new vehicles.
Today, carburetors are often seen as relics of automotive history, appreciated by enthusiasts who enjoy working on classic cars or small engines. They represent a simpler era of engine technology—a time when mechanics could diagnose and repair problems with wrenches and screwdrivers rather than relying heavily on computer diagnostics. So while you might not find one in your new car, the carburetor remains an important piece of engineering history.
Examples
- 1
Engine repair
The mechanic cleaned the carburetor before trying to start the engine.
- 2
Motorcycle tuning
If the carburetor isn't adjusted correctly, the motorcycle may idle badly or stall.
- 3
Modern cars
Most new cars don't have carburetors anymore; they use fuel injection instead.
See also
Similar
- carb
- carburettor
- fuel-air mixer
Shades of meaning
- float carburetor
- downdraft carburetor
Contrast
- fuel injector
- electronic fuel injection
Used with (collocations)
- adjust the carburetor
- clean the carburetor
- carburetor jet
- carburetor choke
Word family
- carburetion
- carbureted
Explore
- intake manifold
- air-fuel ratio
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- carburetornoun
Forms
- carburetorspluralnoun