air-box

noun

plural air-boxes
: a chamber in a motor vehicle through which air is drawn and filtered before passing into the carburetors or fuel injectors
One of the car's neatest features is a flap on the intake air-box beneath the hood that opens above 3,000 rpm, emitting a wild, flat intake moan under acceleration.Terry Box, Dallas Morning News, 8 June 2008

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of air-box was in 1857

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near air-box

Cite this Entry

“Air-box.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/air-box. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!