petroleum
/pəˈtɹoʊliəm/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: petroleums · petrolea
Meaning · English
A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in deposits under the Earth's surface.
Noun
Examples
petroleum-based products
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “petroleum” mean?
A flammable liquid ranging in color from clear to very dark brown and black, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring naturally in deposits under the Earth's surface.
Is “petroleum” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.