/ ˈdiːzl; NAmE / noun
1.
(also ˈdiesel fuel , ˈdiesel oil ) [ U ] a type of heavy oil used as a fuel instead of petrol / gas :
a diesel engine (= one that burns diesel )
diesel cars / locomotives / trains
—compare petrol
2.
[ C ] a vehicle that uses diesel fuel :
Our new car is a diesel.
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WORD ORIGIN
late 19th cent.: named after R. Diesel (1858-1913), the inventor of the diesel engine .