DIESEL

n. 1 (in full diesel engine) an internal-combustion engine in which the heat produced by the compression of air in the cylinder ignites the fuel. 2 a vehicle driven by a diesel engine. 3 fuel for a diesel engine. ødiesel-electric n. a vehicle driven by the electric current produced by a diesel-engined generator. --adj. of or powered by this means. diesel oil a heavy petroleum fraction used as fuel in diesel engines. øødieselize v.tr. (also -ise). [R. Diesel, Ger. engineer d. 1913]