Definitions
01motor fuel
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun American English
n. a liquid made from oil that is used as fuel for cars and trucks.
n. a refined petroleum product used as a fuel for internal combustion engines. Uncountable in its general sense.
“We need to stop at the next station because the car is almost out of gasoline.”
“The sudden spike in gasoline prices forced many logistics companies to reconsider their long-distance shipping routes for the coming quarter.”
Usage
Commonly shortened to 'gas' in everyday American speech.
02high-quality marijuana
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Slang · American English
n. a slang term for very strong or high-quality marijuana.
n. a slang term referring to potent or high-grade cannabis, often characterized by a pungent, fuel-like aroma.
“He claimed he had some gasoline, but it wasn't actually that strong.”
“In certain urban subcultures, the term gasoline is frequently used to denote the highest tier of product available on the market.”
Teaching tip
This is highly informal and specific to drug culture; learners should avoid using it in general conversation.
03powered by gasoline
B1 · Intermediate American English
adj. describes something that uses gasoline to work.
adj. relating to or powered by gasoline; typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun.
“The city is replacing its gasoline buses with new electric ones.”
“The transition from gasoline engines to hybrid systems represents a significant shift in automotive engineering priorities.”
Synonyms
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. Some sources suggest that the name originated from the brand name Cazeline, a petroleum-derived lighting oil, from the surname of the man who first marketed it in 1862, John Cassell, and the suffix –eline, from Greek ἔλαιον (élaion, “oil, olive oil”), from ἐλαία (elaía, “olive”). Gasolene is found from 1863, and gasoline from 1864.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/gasoline
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR