turbocharged
|tur-bo-charged|
🇺🇸
/ˈtɜr.boʊ.tʃɑrdʒd/
🇬🇧
/ˈtɜː.bəʊ.tʃɑːdʒd/
(turbocharge)
boosted by a turbo / given an extra push
Etymology
'turbocharged' is built from the combining form 'turbo-' + the verb 'charge' plus the past-participle suffix '-ed'. 'Turbo' originates from Latin 'turbo' meaning 'whirl' or 'vortex', and 'charge' comes via Old French 'charger' (from Vulgar Latin 'carricare') meaning 'to load'.
'turbo' entered English from Latin/Neo-Latin; the technical noun 'turbocharger' was coined in the early 20th century to name a device that uses exhaust-driven turbines to force extra air into an engine. The verb 'turbocharge' and its past participle 'turbocharged' developed from that compound.
Originally a literal technical term meaning 'fitted with a turbocharger' (i.e., 'given extra air pressure to increase engine power'), it has also developed a figurative sense meaning 'greatly intensified or boosted'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'turbocharge' (to increase power or intensity, especially by using a turbocharger).
They turbocharged the engine to improve performance.
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Adjective 1
equipped with a turbocharger; having engine power increased by the forced induction of extra air.
The turbocharged sports car accelerated past the highway exit.
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Adjective 2
used figuratively: greatly intensified or enhanced; given extra power or energy.
The marketing campaign was turbocharged by a viral video.
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Last updated: 2025/10/11 09:42