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Definition of octane

octane

/ˈɑːk.teɪn/
oc · tane
Plural:octanes
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octane Lexical Profile

octane Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A standard numerical rating that measures a motor fuel's ability to resist engine knocking during compression (short for octane number or octane rating).

Example

"High-performance sports cars typically require gasoline with a higher octane to prevent premature ignition."

2

A colorless, flammable liquid alkane hydrocarbon with eight carbon atoms (C8H18), found in petroleum and used as a major component of gasoline.

Example

"The chemical engineer analyzed the concentration of octane in the refined fuel sample."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for octane

• Rhymes for octane

• Nearby Words

ochna
octagon
octagonal
octane
octave
octet
octogenarian

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the 1860s by German chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann from Greek oktō ('eight'), referring to its eight carbon atoms, and the chemical suffix -ane denoting a saturated hydrocarbon.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Octane. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/octane
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