Wiktionary

carburetor

English

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A carburetor for an internal combustion engine (top view)

Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Attested from 1862, from carburet (“enrich an illuminating gas with carbon-rich fuel”) +‎ -or. The motor vehicle sense is attested since 1896

Pronunciation

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Noun

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carburetor (plural carburetors)

  1. (obsolete) A device for enhancing illuminating gas by mixing in carbon-rich fuel. [from 1860s]
    • Second, the employment of a current of air between the carburettor and the tube leading to the burner, is described.
      The Mechanics' Magazine, July 25, 1862.
  2. (US, Canada) A device in an internal combustion engine where fuel is vaporized and mixed with air prior to ignition. [from 1890s]
  3. (slang, drugs) A water pipe or bong; a device or contrivance for mixing air with burning cannabis or cocaine. [from 1970s]
    • 1989, United States International Trade Commission, Importation of certain drug paraphernalia into the United States, page 8:
      Variations on the bong included air-driven pipes, electric pipes, ice pipes (chillers), mask pipes, chamber pipes, and carburetor pipes.
    • 2008, Dale Gieringer, Ed Rosenthal, Gregory Carter, Marijuana Medical Handbook‎[1], page 172:
      Some pipes feature a “carburetor,” which is a small hole in the air chamber located past the bowl. The carburetor is held shut while the bowl is being lit and the smoke drawn.

Synonyms

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Coordinate terms

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Translations

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References

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