gasoline
[gas-uh-leen, gas-uh-leen]
- 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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Origin of gasoline
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for gasoline
Contemporary Examples
He is perfectly capable of introducing a bill requiring all cars to run on corn stalks instead of gasoline.
The bodies had been piled onto dry branches and logs, doused in gasoline, and set afire.
All Americans really did sacrifice then, accepting strict food and gasoline quotas and doing without a lot of things.
More road closures mean more detours and traffic jams, and more money on gasoline.
This is a lot of biofuel, which is why somebody, in an effort to get rid of the stuff, has been watering our gasoline.
Historical Examples
He sat the legs of the cot in dishes of gasoline, but the kifs still got in.
Happy EndingFredric Brown
Gasoline and ile are pretty expensive these days, too, but—Eh?
Galusha the MagnificentJoseph C. Lincoln
But this particular passenger had been delivered into his hand and gasoline WAS expensive.
Galusha the MagnificentJoseph C. Lincoln
Why, yes; I've got some gasoline over on my power-boat out yonder.
Cape Cod StoriesJoseph C. Lincoln
He fixed up his plane and had gasoline enough for much testing.
A Yankee Flier Over BerlinAl Avery
gasoline
gasolene
- US and Canadian 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 inhibitorsAlso called (esp in Britain): petrol
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for gasoline
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
gasoline
[găs′ə-lēn′]
- 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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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.