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Glite Dictionary
derv

derv

9.9
Fuel for cars and lorries that run on diesel
  • noun
  • /dɜːv/
  • UK
translation icon : diesel
  • He stopped at the service station to fill up the tank with derv.

Examples

  • Many lorries on British roads are powered by derv rather than petrol.

  • After the price rise, farmers found the cost of derv hard to manage.

  • The truck runs on derv.

  • Many lorries use derv as fuel.

  • He stopped at the service station to fill up the tank with derv.

  • After the price rise, farmers found the cost of derv hard to manage.

  • Many lorries on British roads are powered by derv rather than petrol.

Synonyms

diesel
vsderv
45 2.4

A fuel made from oil used in engines like trucks and buses

is aimed specifically at road vehicles rather than general fuel use
diesel fuel
vsderv
  • Specialized
14 2.8

A heavy oil used to power engines in vehicles and machines

is for road vehicles specifically, not for broader machinery use
diesel oil
vsderv
  • Specialized
1 2.8

A heavy oil used as fuel in diesel engines

is intended mainly for road vehicles, not for all engine types

Surface Forms

derv singular
dervs plural

Etymology

Derv is an informal short form from diesel that came from talk about diesel road vehicles, where people used an abbreviation for those vehicles; so drivers began using derv to mean the diesel fuel they put in cars and lorries.