A
venturi is, in airflow terms, a
constriction of an air passage designed to increase the air flow speed and hence reduce the air pressure. A prime example is the
carburetor, which contains a venturi designed to pull
fuel into the airflow by reducing the pressure in the
venturi throat. This can lead to a carburetor
icing up in above-freezing
ambient temperatures, since by lowering the pressure the venturi also lowers the temperature of the passing air. Most
aircraft carbureted engines tend to have carburetor heating devices designed specifically to prevent this.
Venturi nozzles are exhaust or ejecta ports designed to increase the speed of the outflow through constricting the flow path. Some pressure washer nozzles have this characteristic.
This is also the last name of a modern architect who inflicted much pale wood and curvilinearity on the Princeton University campus.