Phrase guide

petroleum ether

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A volatile petroleum fraction, usually available in a number of fractions boiling between 40°C and 140°C, and used as a solvent in the laboratory and industry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: ligroin, petroleum spirit, petroleum spirits

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 石油醚 (shíyóumí) — petroleum fraction
  • Finnish: liuotinbensiini — petroleum fraction
  • French: éther de pétrole — petroleum fraction
  • German: Petrolether — petroleum fraction
  • Japanese: 石油エーテル (sekiyu ēteru) — petroleum fraction
  • Polish: eter naftowy — petroleum fraction
  • Russian: петроле́йный эфи́р (petroléjnyj efír) — petroleum fraction