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Glite Dictionary
petrol gage

petrol gage

4.0
A device in a car that shows how much petrol is left
  • noun
  • /ˈpɛtrəl ɡeɪdʒ/
  • UK
translation icon : indicador de gasolina
  • The petrol gage showed that the tank was nearly empty, so we stopped at the next service station.

Examples

  • My car's petrol gage isn't working, so I fill up the tank regularly just in case.

  • Always check your petrol gage before starting a long journey.

  • The petrol gage is broken.

  • Make sure the petrol gage is accurate.

  • Always check your petrol gage before starting a long journey.

  • My car's petrol gage isn't working, so I fill up the tank regularly just in case.

  • The petrol gage showed that the tank was nearly empty, so we stopped at the next service station.

Synonyms

fuel gauge
vspetrol gage
4 2.9

A device that shows how much fuel is left in a car's tank

is the same function but often called by a different name
gas gauge
vspetrol gage
  • US
3 2.8

A device in a vehicle that shows how much fuel is left

names the same reading but uses an alternative term
petrol gauge
vspetrol gage
  • UK
3.2

A device in a vehicle that shows how much fuel is left in the tank

uses another common name for the same instrument
gas gage
vspetrol gage
  • Archaic
2.3

A device that shows how much fuel is left in a car's tank

refers to the same reading but with a different name
gasoline gauge
vspetrol gage
  • US
3.0

A device in a car that shows how much gas is left

means the same reading but with another common name
fuel indicator
vspetrol gage
3.5

A device that shows how much fuel is left in a car's tank

does the same display but differs mainly in the word used

Surface Forms

petrol gage singular
petrol gages plural
petrol gauges plural
petrol gauge singular

Morphology

petrol + gage

The meaning 'an instrument that shows the amount of petrol' is directly and transparently derived from 'petrol' (fuel) + 'gage' (a measuring instrument/meter). Noun‑noun compounds that name the thing being measured (e.g., water meter, fuel gauge) are a regular, cross‑linguistic pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Petrol gage is the small meter in a car that shows the level of petrol in the fuel tank. A gage is a meter with a needle that moves between 'full' and 'empty', so it tells you 'how much petrol is left'.