diesel

Everyday

1. Diesel is a kind of heavy fuel made from oil, used in many trucks, buses, trains, tractors and some cars. tree →
2. A diesel is a vehicle or engine that uses diesel fuel. tree →
3. It is named after Rudolf Diesel, the engineer who invented the diesel engine (a name). tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, at a petrol station (US: gas station) you choose petrol or diesel; putting the wrong one in a car can break it. In science and geography lessons, diesel is a fossil fuel that gives out carbon dioxide and pollution, so many towns now want electric buses instead. Phrases: «diesel engine», «diesel fuel», «diesel train», «diesel fumes».

Examples

• Dad filled the van with diesel. tree →
• The diesel train rumbled into the station. tree →
• Tractors usually run on diesel. tree →
• Diesel fumes make the air dirty. tree →
• Our school bus is now electric, not diesel. tree →
• Never put diesel in a petrol car. tree →

Note

Uncountable for the fuel («some diesel»); countable for vehicles («two old diesels»). Capital D only for the inventor's name. Diesel is not the same as petrol (gasoline); the engines are different.