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

• gasolineless adjective
• gasolinic adjective

Etymology

Origin of gasoline

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

Example Sentences

“We’ve all been walking around with gasoline on our pants,” she said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Now, talk of the U.S. acquiring Greenland has only added to worries about the size of the U.S. debt load, while the One Big Beautiful Bill Act added more gasoline to the fire, he added.

From Barron's

Estévez said a $15 battery charge, which costs about a third of the price of a full tank of gasoline, lasts almost two days.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you “stop at a gasoline station, you are committing a crime,” Deputy Solicitor Gen. Sarah Harris told the court.

From Los Angeles Times

In a few categories, like gasoline, cellphone service and tickets to sporting events, prices actually dropped.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• diesel fuel
• juice
• oil
• petrol