gasoline

[gas-uh-leen, gas-uh-leen]

noun

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

gasoline

/ 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

gasoline

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.

Other Word Forms

• gasolinic adjective
• gasolineless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of gasoline¹

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

Example Sentences

The companies spent billions of dollars over the past two decades building plants that use huge amounts of water to transform fossil fuels into gasoline, jet fuel and other refined products.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But tariffing Canadian oil would spike gasoline prices in swing states, which is how presidents lose midterm elections.

Read more on MarketWatch

Zelensky on Thursday said that Kyiv’s strikes may have reduced Russia’s gasoline supplies by up to a fifth, crippling its ability to export one of its primary commodities.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I felt like someone poured gasoline and lit a match,” she said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

TV cameras focus on coaches and players who look as if they made a mistake siphoning gasoline.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• diesel fuel 
• juice 
• oil 
• petrol