petroleum
UK: pɪˈtrəʊliəm | US: pəˈtroʊliəm
n. A flammable liquid mixture of hydrocarbons derived from crude oil, used as fuel or in chemical products.
petroleum = petr<rock> + oleum<oil>
- petr (from Greek petra, meaning "rock")
- oleum (from Latin oleum, meaning "oil")
Etymology Origin:
The word petroleum originates from Medieval Latin petroleum, combining Greek petra (rock) and Latin oleum (oil). It literally means "rock oil," reflecting its natural occurrence in geological formations. The term was adopted into English in the late 14th century to describe the viscous, flammable substance extracted from the earth, later becoming central to industrial and energy contexts.
The country's economy heavily depends on petroleum exports.
Scientists are researching alternatives to reduce petroleum consumption.
Spilled petroleum can cause severe environmental damage.
Petroleum is refined into various products like gasoline and diesel.
Ancient civilizations used natural petroleum for waterproofing boats.