petrol

¹

[pe-truhl]

noun

1. British.,  gasoline.

2. Archaic.,  petroleum.

verb (used with object)

petrolled, petrolling 

1. British.,  to clean with gasoline.

petrol.

²

abbreviation

1. petrology.

petrol.

¹

abbreviation

1. petrology

petrol

²

/ ˈpɛtrəl /

noun

1. US and Canadian name: gasoline. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of petrol¹

1590–1600; < Middle French petrole < Medieval Latin petroleum petroleum

Word History and Origins

Origin of petrol¹

C16: via French from Medieval Latin _petroleum

Example Sentences

The jury heard from the prosecutor that doorbell footage from the night of the fire had showed Mr Sunderland, of Calton Street in Keighley, carrying a canister containing seven litres of petrol.

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For many years, lead toxicity was assumed to be closely tied to human industry, including smelting, mining, and the use of leaded petrol and paint.

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One defining image of the crisis is lengthy queues building up outside petrol stations.

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Its petrol stations have put up signs warning customers that Visa and Mastercard can no longer be used to pay for fuel, as the US credit card giants have stopped processing payments.

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It could help make up for the fall in fuel duty as more drivers move away from petrol and diesel cars.

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Related Words

• crude oil 
• fossil fuel 
• fuel 
• gas 
• gasoline 
• kerosene 
• natural gas