noun
petrol
PET-rul/ˈpetrəl/
Gasoline used as fuel for engines.
This small engine runs on petrol rather than diesel fuel.
Etymology
The elements mean “rock oil,” originally naming the natural oily substance found in rock beds. Petrol later came to mean the refined petroleum fuel used in motor vehicles.
In context
Also fuel was a huge development topic. Earlier Zeppelins always had petrol engines, but the problem was the weight loss during flight.
More examples
- The car needs petrol before we can leave.
- Keep petrol in an approved container away from heat.
- Higher petrol prices make the daily commute more expensive.