gasoline

English

Gasoline in a Mason jar
A typical gas can (gasoline container); this one holds 1.03 U.S. gallons (3.9 litres).

Alternative forms

  • gasolene (archaic in the Americas except in Jamaica)

Etymology

From gas +‎ -ol (suffix used in the names of oils) +‎ -ine (suffix used in the names of derivatives). So called because it was originally used in the manufacture and enrichment of domestic gases, such as air gas.[1]

Some sources suggest that the name originated from the brand name Cazeline, a petroleum-derived lighting oil,[2] from the surname of the man who first marketed it in 1862, John Cassell,[3] and the suffix –eline, from Greek ἔλαιον (élaion, “oil, olive oil”), from ἐλαία (elaía, “olive”). Gasolene is found from 1863, and gasoline from 1864.[4]

Pronunciation

  • (UK, US) IPA(key): /ˈɡæs.ə.liːn/
    • (US, dialectal) IPA(key): /ɡæsl̩ˈin/, /ɡæsˈlin/, [ɡæˈsɵlin], [ɡæsɵˈlin]
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -iːn

Noun

gasoline (usually uncountable, plural gasolines)

  2. (uncountable, Canada, US, Philippines) A flammable liquid consisting of a mixture of refined petroleum hydrocarbons, mainly used as a motor fuel; petrol.
    You can't put gasoline in this car. This car takes diesel fuel.
    • 1864, Congress of the United States, Internal Revenue Act §94:
      […] naphtha of specific gravity exceeding eighty degrees […] and of the kind usually known as gasoline, shall be subject to a tax of five per centum ad valorem.
    • 1991, Backdraft, Robert DeNiro (actor):
      So you punched out a window for ventilation. Was that before or after you noticed you were standing in a lake of gasoline?
    • 2012 October 31, David M. Halbfinger, “New Jersey Continues to Cope with Hurricane Sandy”, in The New York Times‎[3], archived from the original on 6 January 2021, retrieved 31 October 2012:
      Localities across New Jersey imposed curfews to prevent looting. In Monmouth, Ocean and other counties, people waited for hours for gasoline at the few stations that had electricity. Supermarket shelves were stripped bare.
  3. (countable) Any specific kind of this fuel.
    He was trying to invent a cleaner-burning gasoline.
    The refinery produces a wide range of gasolines.
  4. (slang) Marijuana, especially very potent or of high quality.
    Synonym: gas
  5. (slang) An alcoholic beverage made of vodka and energy drink.

Usage notes

Gasoline is defined by its combustion properties rather than by chemical composition, which is quite variable.

Synonyms

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Descendants

  • → Japanese: ガソリン (gasorin)
  • → Korean: 가솔린 (gasollin)
  • → Spanish: gasolina
  • → Wu: 隑斯林 / 𬮿斯林 (6ge-sy-lin)

Translations

Adjective

gasoline (not comparable)

  1. Made from or using gasoline.
    • 2006, Edwin Black, chapter 1, in Internal Combustion‎[4]:
      If successful, Edison and Ford—in 1914—would move society away from the ever more expensive and then universally known killing hazards of gasoline cars: […] .

References

  1. ^ O'Connor, Henry (1909), Petrol Air-Gas: A Practical Handbook on the Installation and Working of Air-Gas Lighting Systems for Country Houses‎[1], London: Crosby Lockwood & Son, page 14
  2. ^ The Solicitors' Journal and Reporter, volume 9, page 368, 1865
  3. ^ John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, 1,227 QI Facts To Blow Your Socks Off, Faber & Faber, 2012 →ISBN.
  4. ^ “Archived copy”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎[2], 20 September 2016 (last accessed), archived from the original on 29 July 2017

Italian

Noun

gasoline f

  1. plural of gasolina

Anagrams

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