Plain English Meaning

Turbocharging uses the engine's own exhaust to spin a small fan that squeezes more air into the engine. Denser air means more power, especially up high where the air is thin and a regular engine would otherwise be running out of breath.

Full Definition

A method of increasing an aircraft engine's power output, particularly at altitude, by using a turbine driven by the engine's exhaust gases to compress the intake air before it enters the cylinders. The compressed (denser) air allows more fuel to be burned per cycle, restoring sea-level power at altitudes where a normally aspirated engine would be losing due to air.