diesel

noun

die·​sel ˈdē-zəl 

-səl

1

: diesel engine

2

: a vehicle driven by a diesel engine

3

: diesel fuel

Examples of diesel in a Sentence

Does your car take diesel or gasoline?

Recent Examples on the Web

Biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel, derived from renewable organic materials, offer a cleaner source of energy compared to conventional gasoline and diesel. —Umberto Cavallaro, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

The metaphor of transferring from gasoline/diesel to electric EV vehicles might be another reason. —Zain Jaffer, Rolling Stone, 20 Dec. 2024

The government’s target in 2017 was for one in five cars sold in 2025 not to run on gasoline or diesel. —Keith Bradsher, New York Times, 19 Dec. 2024

Ray also frets over air quality, as the massive diesel generators that help power the data centers' hardware send plumes of toxic pollutants into the atmosphere. —CBS News, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Rudolf Diesel

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing diesel

• diesel-electric
• diesel engine
• diesel fuel

Kids Definition

diesel

noun

die·​sel ˈdē-zəl 

-səl

1

: diesel engine

2

: a vehicle (as a truck or train) driven by a diesel engine

3

: a fuel designed for use in diesel engines

Etymology

named for Rudolf Diesel 1858–1913 German engineer

Biographical Definition

Diesel

biographical name

Die·​sel ˈdē-zəl 

-səl

Rudolf 1858–1913 German mechanical engineer