diesel

[dee-zuh l, -suh l] /ˈdi zəl, -səl/

adjective

noting a machine or vehicle powered by a diesel engine:

diesel locomotive.

of or pertaining to a diesel engine:

diesel fuel.

noun

a vehicle powered by a diesel engine.

Also, Diesel.

Origin

after R. Diesel, the engine's inventor

Diesel

[dee-zuh l, -suh l] /ˈdi zəl, -səl/

noun

Rudolf

[roo-dolf,, -dawlf;; German roo-dawlf] /ˈru dɒlf,, -dɔlf;; German ˈru dɔlf/ (Show IPA), 1858–1913, German automotive engineer.

Examples from the web for diesel

During the early days of diesel locomotive use, they were also painted black.
diesel submarines must periodically resurface or snorkel to recharge their batteries.
They recharged the batteries using the diesel engines without ever surfacing.
This was one of the earliest examples of the use of diesel power generation in australia.
It is used in motorcycles and in some diesel locomotives with mechanical transmission.
Newer kinds of combines are selfpropelled and use diesel engines for power.
Almost all gasoline engines are of this type, but not diesel engines.

British Dictionary definitions for diesel

/ˈdiːzəl/

noun

a ship, locomotive, lorry, etc, driven by a diesel engine

(informal) short for diesel oil

(South African, slang) any cola drink: spook and diesel

sucking diesel, See suck (sense 10)

/ˈdiːzəl/

noun

Rudolf (ˈruːdɔlf). 1858–1913, German engineer, who invented the diesel engine (1892)

Word Origin and History for diesel

adj.

1894, named for Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913), German mechanical engineer who designed this type of engine.