petroleum Definition
a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is present in certain rock strata and can be extracted and refined to produce fuels including gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil.
Using petroleum: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "petroleum" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The country's economy is heavily dependent on petroleum exports.
Example
Petroleum prices have risen sharply in recent months.
Example
The refinery processes crude petroleum into various products.
Example
The company has discovered a new petroleum deposit.
petroleum Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for petroleum
- oil
- crude oil
- fossil oil
Phrases with petroleum
a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons, having a melting point usually within a few degrees of human body temperature, used in many cosmetics and medical preparations
Example
She applied petroleum jelly to her dry skin.
the branch of engineering concerned with the design, drilling, and operation of wells for the production of oil and gas
Example
He studied petroleum engineering in college.
petroleum-based
derived from or containing petroleum
Example
Many plastic products are petroleum-based.
Summary: petroleum in Brief
Petroleum [pəˈtrəʊliəm] is a liquid mixture of hydrocarbons found in certain rock strata. It is extracted and refined into fuels like gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil. The economy of some countries is heavily dependent on petroleum exports, and the discovery of new petroleum deposits can be significant. Petroleum jelly is a semi-solid mixture of hydrocarbons used in cosmetics and medical preparations.
