Diesel vs. Petrol — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Diesel and Petrol
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Compare with Definitions
Diesel
An internal combustion engine in which heat produced by the compression of air in the cylinder is used to ignite the fuel
A diesel locomotive
Petrol
A light fuel oil that is obtained by distilling petroleum and used in internal combustion engines.
Petrol fumes
Diesel
A diesel engine.
Petrol
A shade of greenish or greyish blue.
Diesel
A vehicle powered by a diesel engine.
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Petrol
Gasoline.
Diesel
Any of various fuels used to power diesel engines, especially one derived from petroleum.
Petrol
Petroleum, a fluid consisting of a mixture of refined petroleum hydrocarbons, primarily consisting of octane, commonly used as a motor fuel.
Diesel
To continue running after the ignition has been turned off, as when an open throttle supplies fuel to an engine that is still sufficiently hot to ignite it.
Petrol
(informal) A motor vehicle powered by petrol (as opposed to diesel).
Diesel
To drive a diesel-powered vehicle
We dieseled through the countryside.
Petrol
Petroleum.
Diesel
To refuel a diesel-powered vehicle. Often used with up.
Petrol
A volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines
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.
Diesel
(countable) A vehicle powered by a diesel engine.
Diesel
A rider who has an even energy output, without bursts of speed.
Diesel
Snakebite and black (a drink).
Diesel
(slang) A particular cannabis hybrid.
Diesel
To ignite a substance by using the heat generated by compression.
Diesel
(automotive) 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.
Diesel
A type of internal-combustion engine in which the air drawn in by the suction stroke is so highly compressed that the heat generated ignites the fuel (usually a heavy oil), the fuel being automatically sprayed into the cylinder under pressure. The Diesel engine has a very high thermal efficiency.
Diesel
German engineer (born in France) who invented the diesel engine (1858-1913)
Diesel
An internal-combustion engine that burns heavy oil
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