Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Carburetor \Car"bu*ret`or\, Carburettor \Car"bu*ret`tor\, n.
   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, 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.

Carburetor \Car"bu*ret`or\, n. (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}.]

Source : WordNet®

carburetor
     n : mixes air with gasoline vapor prior to explosion [syn: {carburettor}]