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petrolio

oil, petroleum

noun peh-TROH-lyoh Less Common

Origin: Medieval Latin 'petroleum,' from Greek 'petra' (rock) + Latin 'oleum' (oil).

Usage Note

Petrolio refers to crude oil or petroleum as a raw resource. For the refined product you pump into a car, Italians say benzina (petrol/gasoline); petrolio is the geological or geopolitical commodity. Pozzo di petrolio means oil well.

Examples

"Il prezzo del petrolio è salito."

Natural Translation

The price of oil has risen.

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