n. Any of the eighteen isomeric aliphatic hydrocarbons (C8H18) found in petroleum, especially an iso-octane 2,2,4 trimethyl-pentane; they are used as fuels and solvents.
the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
n. Any one of a group of metametric hydrocarbons (C8H18) of the methane (paraffin) series. The most important is a colorless, volatile, inflammable liquid, found in petroleum, and a constituent of gasoline or ligroin.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
n. An oily hydrocarbon, C8H18, of the paraffin series. It occurs in petroleum, and is one of the chief constituents of ligroin. It boils at 124° C. The name is sometimes given to diisobutyl (C8H18).
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
n. any isomeric saturated hydrocarbon found in petroleum and used as a fuel and solvent
Word Usage
"This higher octane is achieved through the use of tetraethyl lead as a fuel additive."