petrol

[ pe-truhl ]

/ ˈpɛ trəl /

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See synonyms for petrol on Thesaurus.com

noun

British. gasoline.

Archaic. petroleum.

verb (used with object), pet·rolled, pet·rol·ling.

British. to clean with gasoline.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of petrol

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

Other definitions for petrol (2 of 2)

petrol.

abbreviation

petrology.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use petrol in a sentence

His wife works for Suncor, a Canadian Petrol company that was among the first to operate in the tar sands.
Our Trip to The Climate War's Ground Zero|Darren Aronofsky|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pro-Russian activists rushed inside for shelter, and soon both sides were hurling petrol bombs at each other.
Ukraine’s Vigilante Peacemakers|James Kirchick|May 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Petrol will disappear but the national park will last forever,” he said.
Can Gorillas Save the Democratic Republic of the Congo?|Nina Strochlic|April 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It crowd-sources petrol prices and was widely used during a recent petrol shortage in Kampala.
Geeking Out: Uganda’s Women are Creating the Next Generation of Girl Geeks|Mike Miesen|January 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Gray smoke from its engine mingled with petrol fumes and a metallic smell of burning.
Tina Brown: No, Conspiracy Theorists, Princess Diana Was Not Murdered|Tina Brown|August 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Only the petrol tins they took for water right and left of their pathway up the cliff; huge diamonds in the evening sun.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
Evidently the petrol had burnt out; but not so the fire, alas!
Sarah's School Friend|May Baldwin
"Plenty of petrol—enough for all night, I should say," he reported.
The Secret Witness|George Gibbs
Would you mind telling me how you are equipped with oil and petrol?
The Secret Witness|George Gibbs
Hannam, assisted by Bickerton, Madigan and others, had laid heavy and firm foundations for the petrol-motor and generator.
The Home of the Blizzard|Douglas Mawson

British Dictionary definitions for petrol (1 of 2)

petrol

/ (ˈpɛtrəl) /

noun

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 inhibitorsUS and Canadian name: gasoline

Word Origin for petrol

C16: via French from Medieval Latin petroleum

British Dictionary definitions for petrol (2 of 2)

petrol.

abbreviation for

petrology

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

petrol

Origin of petrol

Other definitions for petrol (2 of 2)

Words related to petrol

How to use petrol in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for petrol (1 of 2)

Word Origin for petrol

British Dictionary definitions for petrol (2 of 2)