diesel

diesel — noun

1. A heavy oil that is burned inside engines to produce power. It is used mainly in

1.名詞B1
釋義

A heavy oil that is burned inside engines to produce power. It is used mainly in cars, trucks, trains, and generators, and is thicker and less flammable than petrol.

例句

Camila filled her car with diesel at the petrol station near the highway.

Diesel costs less than petrol in many parts of Europe.

comparison: diesel vs petrol

同義詞
  • fuel

    general term; diesel is one type of fuel, but 'fuel' can also refer to petrol, gas, coal, etc.

  • petrodiesel

    technical term for diesel derived from crude oil, distinguishing it from biodiesel

反義詞
  • petrol

    also called gasoline; the lighter fuel used in spark-ignition engines

用法筆記

In this sense, diesel is uncountable — you cannot say 'a diesel' to mean the fuel. In British English, the fuel is sold at 'diesel pumps'; in American English, it is found at 'gas stations' alongside petrol.

常見錯誤

❌I need to buy some diesel oil for my car.
✅I need to buy some diesel for my car.
💡'Diesel oil' is redundant; diesel is already understood as a type of fuel oil.
❌The petrol engine runs on diesel.
✅The diesel engine runs on diesel.
💡Petrol engines and diesel engines use different fuel types and are not interchangeable.

2. A truck, bus, train, or other powered transport that uses a diesel engine for po

2.名詞B2
釋義

A truck, bus, train, or other powered transport that uses a diesel engine for power instead of a petrol engine.

例句

The new diesel trains are quieter and use less fuel than the old electric ones.

collocation: diesel train

Nikhil drives a diesel truck for a delivery company across the state.

同義詞
反義詞

用法筆記

In this countable sense, 'a diesel' or 'diesels' always refers to a vehicle — not the fuel or the engine alone. Context makes the meaning clear: 'We took a diesel' implies a diesel-powered train, bus, or truck depending on the situation.

常見錯誤

❌I bought a diesel for my car.
✅I bought a diesel car.' or 'I filled my car with diesel.
💡Without context, 'a diesel' means a vehicle, not fuel. For the fuel, use the uncountable form 'diesel' without an article.
❌Diesels are more expensive than petrol.
✅Diesel cars are more expensive than petrol cars.
💡The comparison is clearer when you specify the type of vehicle.

3. An engine that burns diesel fuel instead of petrol. It uses high pressure to hea

3.名詞B2
釋義

An engine that burns diesel fuel instead of petrol. It uses high pressure to heat the air inside the cylinders so the fuel catches fire on its own, without needing a spark plug.

例句

The diesel in this tractor is much more powerful than the old petrol engine.

Élise learned how a diesel ignites fuel by compression in her engineering class.

technical: compression ignition

同義詞
反義詞
  • petrol engine

    also called a spark-ignition engine; uses spark plugs to ignite the fuel

用法筆記

In technical contexts, 'a diesel' (countable) means a diesel engine. The possessive form — 'the diesel's oil filter' — is common in automotive writing. Do not confuse with 'diesel' as fuel (uncountable, Sense 1).

常見錯誤

❌My car has a diesel motor.
✅My car has a diesel engine.
💡'Diesel motor' is non-standard; 'diesel engine' is the conventional term.
❌The diesel runs on petrol.
✅The diesel runs on diesel fuel.
💡A diesel engine can only burn diesel, not petrol.