Plain English Meaning
Turning a liquid into a gas. In an aircraft engine, it means the fuel changes from liquid drops into a fine mist or vapor so it can burn properly when mixed with air.
Full Definition
The process by which a liquid changes into a vapor (gas), either by evaporation at the surface or by boiling throughout the liquid. In a carburetor, vaporization is the conversion of liquid fuel into a fine vapor that mixes with incoming air to form a combustible fuel/air mixture.
Context Anchor
Seen in carburetor system discussions, especially when learning how fuel mixes with air and why carburetor ice can form.
Derivation
From Latin 'vapor,' meaning steam or mist, with the suffix '-ization' meaning the process of becoming. So vaporization literally means 'the process of turning into vapor.'