Adjacent Words

petroleum definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons [syn: petroleum, crude oil, crude, rock oil, fossil oil, oil]

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Latin petr- + oleum oil — more at oil Date: 15th century an oily flammable bituminous liquid that may vary from almost colorless to black, occurs in many places in the upper strata of the earth, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons with small amounts of other substances, and is prepared for use as gasoline, naphtha, or other products by various refining processes

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. a hydrocarbon oil found in the upper strata of the earth, refined for use as a fuel for heating and in internal-combustion engines, for lighting, dry-cleaning, etc. Phrases and idioms: petroleum ether a volatile liquid distilled from petroleum, consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons. petroleum jelly a translucent solid mixture of hydrocarbons used as a lubricant, ointment, etc. Etymology: med.L f. L petra rock f. Gk + L oleum oil

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Petroleum Pe*tro"le*um, n. [NL., fr. L. petra a rock + oleum oil: cf. F. p['e]trole. Cf. Petrify, and Oil.] Rock oil, mineral oil, or natural oil, a dark brown or greenish inflammable liquid, which, at certain points, exists in the upper strata of the earth, from whence it is pumped, or forced by pressure of the gas attending it. It consists of a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons, largely of the methane series, but may vary much in appearance, composition, and properties. It is refined by distillation, and the products include kerosene, benzine, gasoline, paraffin, etc. Petroleum spirit, a volatile liquid obtained in the distillation of crude petroleum at a temperature of 170[deg] Fahr., or below. The term is rather loosely applied to a considerable range of products, including benzine and ligroin. The terms petroleum ether, and naphtha, are sometimes applied to the still more volatile products, including rhigolene, gasoline, cymogene, etc.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Petroleum is oil which is found under the surface of the earth or under the sea bed. Petrol and paraffin are obtained from petroleum.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Rock oil, mineral oil, mineral pitch, mineral tar, stone oil, Barbadoes tar, Seneca oil.

Moby Thesaurus

avgas, benzine, coal oil, crude, crude oil, electricity, ethyl, ethyl gas, fossil oil, gas, gasoline, high-octane gas, high-test, illuminant, illuminating gas, kerosene, lead-free gas, light source, low-lead gas, luminant, motor oil, oil, paraffin, petrol, premium gas, regular, rock oil