Supercharger

A supercharger is an air compressor used for increasing the pressure or density of air supplied to an internal combustion engine. This compressed air supplies a greater mass of oxygen per cycle of the engine to support combustion than available to a naturally aspirated engine, enabling for more fuel to be burned and more work to be done per cycle, thus allowing the increase the power produced by the engine.

Power for the supercharger can be provided mechanically by means of a belt, gear, shaft, or chain connected to the engine's crankshaft. When power is provided by a turbine powered by exhaust gas, a supercharger is known as a turbo supercharger.