diesel
A fuel derived from petroleum (or other oils) but heavier than gasoline/petrol. Used to power diesel engines which burn this fuel using the heat produced when air is compressed.
Noun 2 meanings
A fuel derived from petroleum (or other oils) but heavier than gasoline/petrol. Used to power diesel engines which burn this fuel using the heat produced when air is compressed.
“They were chagrined to see that the price of diesel had climbed past six dollars a gallon.”
A vehicle powered by a diesel engine.
“His next truck will be a diesel.”
Verb 2 meanings
To ignite a substance by using the heat generated by compression.
For a spark-ignition internal combustion engine to continue running after the electrical current to the spark plugs has been turned off. This occurs when there's enough heat in the combustion chamber to ignite the air and fuel mixture without a spark, the same way that heat and pressure cause ignition in a diesel engine.
“The only reason the VW bug has a solenoid is to prevent it from dieseling.”
Etymology
From German Diesel, named after inventor Rudolf Diesel, who developed a heavy-duty engine in Germany (1892–1897) and perfected it throughout his life.
DIESEL at a glance
DIESEL has 6 letters and scores 7 points in Scrabble (D 2 + I 1 + E 1 + S 1 + E 1 + L 1) and 8 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #6,457 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with diesel
All rhymesOne letter away
- DIESES7
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