petrol

¹

[ pe-truhl ]

noun

1. British. gasoline.
2. Archaic. petroleum.

verb (used with object)

, pet·rolled, pet·rol·ling.

1. British. to clean with gasoline.

petrol.

²

abbreviation for

1. petrology.

petrol.

¹

abbreviation for

1. petrology

petrol

²

/ ˈpɛtrəl /

noun

1. 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 US and Canadian namegasoline

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

“We, as Palestinians, don’t have petrol or big companies. Our main agricultural crop is olives,” he adds.

From BBC

"For ministers to stand up and say this is good for farmers like me, for agriculture, they are chucking petrol onto a rather hot fire at the moment."

From BBC

In a move which could be likened to swallowing half a paracetamol for acute appendicitis, the government made sure people were paying slightly less than the market rate for a litre of petrol.

From BBC

The mandate will become tougher next year ahead of a complete ban on new diesel and petrol cars in 2035, but car makers have suggested the rules could threaten jobs.

From BBC

Hotels' restaurants have opened and there is a petrol station with a shop trading on Sundays.

From BBC

Related Words

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