benzine

American  

[ben-zeen, ben-zeen] / ˈbɛn zin, bɛnˈzin /

Also benzin

noun

1. a colorless, volatile, flammable, liquid mixture of various hydrocarbons, obtained in the distillation of petroleum, and used in cleaning, dyeing, etc.

---

benzine British  

/ ˈbɛnziːn, ˈbɛnzɪn, bɛnˈziːn /

noun

1. a volatile mixture of the lighter aliphatic hydrocarbon constituents of petroleum See ligroin petroleum ether

---

Etymology

Origin of benzine

First recorded in 1850–55; benz- + -ine ²

Example Sentences

They wanted the gasoline — the benzine — that was leaking out of the plane and ran toward them with buckets to collect the fuel.

From New York Times • Dec. 17, 2021

Supreme Court in 2013 of polluting groundwater in the area with toxic benzine, has sponsored the cleanup as part of its corporate social responsibility campaign.

From Slate • Jan. 3, 2014

The smell of benzine wafts up from the water trough.

From Slate • Jan. 3, 2014

From its oil refineries came one-third of the aviation gasoline, benzine and lubricants that kept Adolf Hitler's military machine running.

From Time Magazine Archive

Water, oil, benzine or alcohol is used to keep the stone clear and wash away the cuttings.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua