carburetor

[ kahr-buh-rey-ter, -byuh- ]

noun

1. a device for mixing vaporized fuel with air to produce a combustible or explosive mixture, as for an internal-combustion engine.

Word History and Origins

Origin of carburetor¹

First recorded in 1860–65; carburet + -or ²

Example Sentences

The son of an automobile mechanic from the suburbs of London, Dr. Calne had long wondered why damaged organs, like faulty carburetors, couldn’t be swapped out for new ones.

From New York Times

One memory stood out among the others: Watching Dale Earnhardt tinker with his carburetor under the hood of his car.

From Washington Times

A good catcher is the quarterback, the carburetor, the lead dog, the pulse taker, the traffic cop and sometimes a lot of unprintable things, but no team gets very far without one.

From Seattle Times

I need to know where the carburetor is, man.”

From Los Angeles Times

While he was flying his Farman, the line feeding fuel to the carburetor broke.

From Washington Post