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diesel definition

die·sel (dē′zəl, -səl)

noun

  1. 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) diesel engine (or motor)
  2. a locomotive, truck, etc. powered by such an engine

Etymology: 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

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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