Biodiesel

/ˈbaɪoʊˌdizəl/ noun

Definition

A renewable fuel made from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled cooking grease that can power diesel engines.

Etymology

Compound of bio- (life, biological) and diesel, named after Rudolf Diesel. The term emerged in the 1980s as environmental concerns grew, combining the Greek bios with the German inventor's surname.

Kelly Says

Rudolf Diesel actually designed his original engine in 1893 to run on peanut oil, making biodiesel a return to the inventor's original vision rather than a modern innovation. The irony is that petroleum diesel became the norm, and we're now going back to biological fuels!

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