petroleum
/pi'trouljəm/
Definition
- Noun:
- A naturally occurring, dark, viscous liquid mixture of hydrocarbons found beneath the Earth's surface: Petroleum is a fossil fuel formed from the remains of ancient marine organisms. It is a crucial raw material, refined to produce fuels like gasoline and diesel, as well as many chemical products.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The country's economy depends heavily on the export of petroleum.
- Crude petroleum is pumped from underground reservoirs and transported to refineries.
- Plastics and synthetic fibers are often derived from petroleum.
Advanced Usage
- "Petroleum jelly": A semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons, used as a topical ointment.
- She applied petroleum jelly to soothe her dry skin.
- "Petroleum industry": The collective businesses involved in the exploration, extraction, refining, and sale of petroleum.
- He has worked in the petroleum industry for over twenty years.
Variants and Related Words
- Petrol (n, chiefly British): A refined fuel for internal-combustion engines; gasoline.
- I need to stop and put some petrol in the car.
- Petrochemical (n): A chemical substance obtained from petroleum or natural gas.
- Ethylene is a fundamental petrochemical used to make plastics.
Synonyms
- Crude oil: Unrefined petroleum.
- Black gold: An informal term for petroleum, emphasizing its economic value.
- Fossil fuel: A natural fuel such as petroleum, coal, or gas, formed from ancient organic matter.
Related Phrases
- Petroleum reservoir: A subsurface pool of hydrocarbons contained in porous or fractured rock formations.
- Petroleum derivative: Any product obtained through the refining of petroleum (e.g., kerosene, asphalt).
Noun
-
a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons
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