gasoline

American  

[gas-uh-leen, gas-uh-leen] / ˌgæs əˈlin, ˈgæs əˌlin /

noun

1. a volatile, flammable liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, obtained from petroleum, and used as fuel for internal-combustion engines, as a solvent, etc.

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gasoline British  

/ ˌɡæsəˈlɪnɪk, ˈɡæsəˌliːn /

noun

1. Also called (esp in Britain): petrol.  any one of various volatile flammable liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons, mainly hexane, heptane, and octane, obtained from petroleum and used as a solvent and a fuel for internal-combustion engines. Usually petrol also contains additives such as antiknock compounds and corrosion inhibitors

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gasoline Scientific  

/ găs′ə-lēn′ /

1. A highly flammable mixture of liquid hydrocarbons that are derived from petroleum. The hydrocarbons in gasoline contain between five and eight carbon atoms. Gasoline is used as a fuel for internal-combustion engines in automobiles, motorcycles, and small trucks.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• gasolinic
  adjective
• gasolineless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of gasoline

An Americanism dating back to 1860–65; gas + -ol ² + -ine ²

Example Sentences

Rather, he expects high oil prices to manifest into even higher prices for gasoline, jet fuel and other petroleum products.

From Salon • Jun. 10, 2026

“Household budgets are now being further strained by higher gasoline prices and spillover from higher energy costs onto other goods,” she said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

Chinese gasoline and diesel consumption is also down more than 10% from a year ago, according to the IEA.

From Barron's • Jun. 7, 2026

U.S. exports of crude and products such as gasoline, diesel and jet fuel have soared during the crisis, part of what has kept the world relatively well supplied despite the war with Iran.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

Liyana asked him as he poured gasoline into the lawn mower for the last time.

From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye

Related Words

• diesel fuel
• juice
• oil
• petrol