Definition
A jet engine in which a turbine-driven compressor draws in and compresses air, mixes it with fuel, and ignites the mixture to produce a high-velocity exhaust stream that provides forward thrust. The exhaust also drives the turbine, which in turn powers the compressor.
Plain English
An engine that sucks in air, squeezes it, burns fuel in it, and shoots the hot gases out the back to push the aircraft forward.
Context Anchor
Seen in engine and icing discussions, especially when ice may form in or around the engine air inlet.
Derivation
From 'turbine' (a wheel turned by flowing fluid or gas) plus 'jet' (a forceful stream). The name describes exactly what the engine does: a turbine drives the compressor, and the engine produces thrust by ejecting a jet of hot exhaust.
Why Pilots Care
Induction icing can restrict or block the air intake, causing power loss or flameout in flight.
Example Sentence 1
Early jet airliners used turbojet engines, which produced strong thrust at high altitude but burned fuel at a high rate.
Example Sentence 2
Turbojet performance dropped when ice formed on the inlet guide vanes during descent.