CARBURETTOR

add. ·noun one that carburets; specif., an apparatus in which air or gas is carbureted, as by passing it through a light petroleum oil. the carburetor for a gasoline engine is usually either a surface carburetor, or a float, float-feed, / spray, carburetor. in the former air is charged by being passed over the surface of gasoline. in the latter a fine spray of gasoline is drawn from an atomizing nozzle by a current of air induced by the suction of the engine piston, the supply of gasoline being regulated by a float which actuates a needle valve controlling the outlet of the feed pipe. alcohol and other volatile inflammable liquids may be used instead of gasoline.