Plain English Meaning

Burning. Fuel mixes with air, ignites, and releases heat and pressure. In a jet engine, this burning happens nonstop inside a chamber to keep the engine running.

Full Definition

The rapid chemical reaction between fuel and oxygen that releases heat and expanding gases. In a gas turbine engine, combustion occurs continuously inside the combustion chamber, where compressed air is mixed with fuel and ignited to produce a steady stream of high-energy gas that drives the turbine and produces thrust.

Context Anchor

Seen in gas turbine engine descriptions, especially when explaining how air and fuel are burned to produce engine power.