From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Carburetor \Car"bu*ret'or\, Carburettor \Car"bu*ret'tor\, noun
1. (Chem.) An apparatus in which coal gas, hydrogen, or air is passed through or over a volatile hydrocarbon, in order to confer or increase illuminating power. [Written also {carburettor}.]
2. 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 alternatively a {float carburetor} (called also {float-feed carburetor}, or {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. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
noun
1: mixes air with gasoline vapor prior to explosion [syn: {carburettor}]
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