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petroleum
[ puh-troh-lee-uhm ]
noun
- an oily, thick, flammable, usually dark-colored liquid that is a form of bitumen or a mixture of various hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in various parts of the world and commonly obtained by drilling: used in a natural or refined state as fuel, or separated by distillation into gasoline, naphtha, benzene, kerosene, paraffin, etc.
petroleum
/ əˈٰəʊɪə /
noun
- a dark-coloured thick flammable crude oil occurring in sedimentary rocks around the Persian Gulf, in parts of North and South America, and below the North Sea, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons. Fractional distillation separates the crude oil into petrol, paraffin, diesel oil, lubricating oil, etc. Fuel oil, paraffin wax, asphalt, and carbon black are extracted from the residue
petroleum
- A thick, flammable, yellow-to-black mixture of gaseous, liquid, and solid hydrocarbons that occurs naturally beneath the Earth's surface. It can be separated into fractions including natural gas, gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, paraffin wax, asphalt, and fuel and lubricating oils, and is used as raw material for a wide variety of derivative products. It is believed to originate from the accumulated remains of fossil plants and animals, especially in shallow marine environments.
Other Word Forms
- ·ٰl·dzܲ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of petroleum1
Word History and Origins
Origin of petroleum1
Compare Meanings
How does petroleum compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Its biggest economies - Brazil and Argentina - are major exporters of soybeans and petroleum as well as, in Brazil's case, iron ore used in steel production.
The US also sent pharmaceuticals and petroleum to China.
And Moscow's recent decision to extend the ban on petroleum exports shows that they're feeling the pain.
Myers’ vision for the area included reintroducing animals that had once been native inhabitants, including tule elk and bighorn sheep, and obliterating man-made intrusions, such as a rock quarry, petroleum waste pits, fences and roads.
South Korea’s main exports to the U.S. are semiconductors and cars, while its imports from the U.S. are led by crude petroleum and machinery.
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