Definition

1. Noun:
   • A liquid fuel for engines: "Petrol" is a flammable liquid mixture of hydrocarbons, primarily derived from petroleum (crude oil). It is used as the main fuel in most cars and other vehicles with internal combustion engines.
   • A specific type of motor fuel: In many countries, "petrol" is the common term for the fuel used in standard gasoline-powered vehicles, as opposed to diesel.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • We need to stop and fill up the car with petrol. (We need to stop and put fuel in the car.)
  • The price of petrol has increased again this month. (The cost of this type of fuel has gone up.)
  • This lawnmower runs on unleaded petrol. (This machine uses a specific, lead-free type of this fuel.)

Advanced Usage and Notes

• Regional Variation: The word "petrol" is standard in British English, Australian English, and many other Commonwealth countries. In American English, the equivalent term is "gasoline" or the shortened form "gas."
• Technical Context: In technical or chemical contexts, "petrol" refers specifically to the refined mixture of light hydrocarbons (like octane) designed for spark-ignition engines.
• "Petrol head" (slang, compound noun): An enthusiast for cars and motor racing. (Note: This is a compound term, not a usage of "petrol" alone).
  • He's a real petrol head; he loves classic sports cars.

Variants and Related Words

• Petroleum (n): The raw, unrefined crude oil from which petrol and other products are derived.
• Gasoline (n): The American English term for petrol.
• Fuel (n): A general term for any material used to produce energy or heat, which includes petrol, diesel, etc.
• Unleaded (adj/n): Describing petrol that does not contain lead additives. Often used as a noun:

Synonyms

• Gasoline (primarily US English)
• Gas (US English, informal short form of gasoline)

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Petrol station (n): A place where vehicles can be refueled with petrol and other fuels; a filling station or gas station.
• Petrol tank (n): The container in a vehicle that holds the petrol.
• Petrol pump (n): The device used to dispense petrol into a vehicle's tank.

Noun

1. a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines