coal oil
Americannoun
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petroleum obtained by the destructive distillation of bituminous coal.
noun
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petroleum or a refined product from petroleum, esp kerosene
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a crude oil produced, together with coal gas, during the distillation of bituminous coal
Etymology
Origin of coal oil
An Americanism dating back to 1855–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Greenhouse gases mainly come from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026
Because it traps ancient air bubbles, ice is the only climatic archive of the atmosphere of the past and thus of greenhouse gas concentrations before the industrial burning of coal, oil and gas.
From Barron's ● Nov. 7, 2025
Scientists have found air pollution from coal, oil and gas combustion kills millions of people around the world every year, in large part by exacerbating heart disease.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2025
The widespread burning of coal, oil and gas in the wake of the industrial revolution has driven billions of tonnes of planet-warming gases into the atmosphere.
From BBC ● Jan. 28, 2025
The bird’s black plumage shone like coal oil in the torchlight.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
