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petroleum |
3 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Petroleum \Pe*tro"le*um\, n. [NL., fr L. petra a rock + oleum oil: cf F. p['e]trole. Cf {Petrify}, and {Oil}.] Rock oil, mineral oil, or natural oil, a dark brown or greenish inflammable liquid, which at certain points, exists in the upper strata of the earth, from whence it is pumped, or forced by pressure of the gas attending it It consists of a complex mixture of various hydrocarbons, largely of the methane series, but may vary much in appearance, composition, and properties. It is refined by distillation, and the products include kerosene, benzine, gasoline, paraffin, etc {Petroleum spirit}, a volatile liquid obtained in the distillation of crude petroleum at a temperature of 170[deg] Fahr., or below. The term is rather loosely applied to a considerable range of products, including benzine and ligroin. The terms petroleum ether, and naphtha, are sometimes applied to the still more volatile products, including rhigolene, gasoline, cymogene, etc From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: petroleum n : a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons [syn: {crude oil}, {crude}, {coal oil}, {rock oil}, {fossil oil}] From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]: Petroleum, WV Zip code(s): 26161
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