Definition
A second combustion section installed downstream of the turbine in a turbojet or turbofan engine, where additional fuel is sprayed into the hot exhaust gases and ignited to produce a large, temporary increase in thrust.
Plain English
An extra burner at the back of a jet engine. It sprays more fuel into the hot exhaust and lights it, giving the engine a short burst of extra power.
Context Anchor
Seen in turbine engine and powerplant maintenance discussions, especially with high-performance jet aircraft.
Derivation
Literally 'a burner that comes after.' Named because the extra burning happens after the main combustion and turbine sections, in the tailpipe.
Why Pilots Care
Provides a large but temporary increase in thrust, useful for short bursts such as takeoff or combat maneuvers.
Grounding Statement
When the afterburner is selected, extra fuel burns in the hot exhaust behind the engine, and the aircraft gains thrust while fuel flow rises sharply.
Intuition Check
An afterburner is not a second main engine, and it does not make the aircraft more fuel-efficient. It is a short-term thrust booster that burns extra fuel in the exhaust.
Example Sentence 1
The pilot selected afterburner on the takeoff roll to get airborne quickly from the short runway.
Example Sentence 2
Afterburner use is limited because it consumes fuel at a very high rate.