petroleum
A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black,…A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in deposits under the Earth's surface.
» Petroleum has been important since ancient times.
Meaning
1 senses(countable, uncountable)A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in deposits under the Earth's surface.
petroleum-based products
a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons
Examples
31 sentencesPetroleum has been important since ancient times.
Algeria has petroleum and natural gas.
The prospectors found a petroleum field.
Petrochemicals are chemical products derived from petroleum.
A petroleum platform exploded in the bay.
deIn der Bucht explodierte eine Erdölplattform.
Origin
Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin petroleum. Doublet of petrol.Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin petroleum. Doublet of petrol.
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Forms
plural: petroleums / petroleaSynonyms
16 synonyms- a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons:crude oilcruderock oilfossil oiloil
Word family
17 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular
- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable