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Petroleum: meaning, definitions and examples

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petroleum

 

[ pəˈtrəʊliəm ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

natural resource

Petroleum is a naturally occurring, yellow-to-black liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface. It is commonly refined into various types of fuels.

Synonyms

black gold, crude oil

Examples of usage

  • The country's economy heavily relies on petroleum exports.
  • Many products we use daily are derived from petroleum.
Context #2 | Noun

chemistry

Petroleum is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons, with molecular weights ranging from 100 to 1000.

Synonyms

fossil fuel, oil

Examples of usage

  • The composition of petroleum varies depending on its source and refining process.
  • Chemists study the properties of different fractions of petroleum.
Context #3 | Noun

industry

Petroleum plays a crucial role in the global energy sector, serving as a primary source of fuel for transportation and electricity generation.

Synonyms

energy sector, oil industry

Examples of usage

  • The petroleum industry employs millions of people worldwide.
  • Investments in renewable energy are gradually reducing our dependence on petroleum.

Translations

Translations of the word "petroleum" in other languages:

🇵🇹 petróleo

🇮🇳 पेट्रोलियम

🇩🇪 Erdöl

🇮🇩 minyak bumi

🇺🇦 нафта

🇵🇱 ropa naftowa

🇯🇵 石油 (sekiyu)

🇫🇷 pétrole

🇪🇸 petróleo

🇹🇷 petrol

🇰🇷 석유 (seog-yu)

🇸🇦 نفط (naft)

🇨🇿 ropa

🇸🇰 ropa

🇨🇳 石油 (shíyóu)

🇸🇮 nafta

🇮🇸 jarðolía

🇰🇿 мұнай

🇬🇪 ნავთობი (navtobi)

🇦🇿 neft

🇲🇽 petróleo

Etymology

The word 'petroleum' comes from the Latin words 'petra', meaning 'rock', and 'oleum', meaning 'oil'. Its usage dates back to ancient times when natural oil seeps were used for medicinal and lighting purposes. The modern petroleum industry began in the 19th century with the discovery of oil fields and the development of refining processes.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,896, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.