diesel

The definition of a diesel is an engine that burns fuel oil, or something powered by this type of engine.

(noun)

An example of a diesel is a train that runs on fuel oil.

Diesel is defined as to run after the ignition is off.

(verb)

An example of diesel is for a vehicle's engine to continue running even though it has been turned off.

See diesel in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a type of internal-combustion engine that burns fuel oil: the ignition is brought about by heat resulting from air compression, instead of by an electric spark as in a gasoline engine
also diesel engine (or motor)
a locomotive, truck, etc. powered by such an engine

Origin: after R. Diesel (1858-1913), Ger inventor

intransitive verb

to continue to run after the ignition is turned off: said of an internal-combustion engine

See diesel in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

intransitive verb die·seled, die·sel·ing, die·sels

To continue running after the ignition has been turned off, as when an open throttle supplies fuel to an engine that is still sufficiently hot to ignite it.
To drive a diesel-powered vehicle: We dieseled through the countryside.
To refuel a diesel-powered vehicle. Often used with up.

German engineer who devised and patented (1892) an internal-combustion engine.

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diesel in a sentence

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