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.
Phrases and idioms:
diesel-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.
Derivatives:
dieselize v.tr. (also -ise).
Etymology: R. Diesel, Ger. engineer d. 1913