high-octaneadj.n.
/ˌhʌɪˈɒkteɪn/, U.S. /ˈˌhaɪˈɑkteɪn/ A. adj.
1. Designating motor or aviation fuel with a high octane number.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > chemical fuel > [adjective] > properties or characteristics
premium1856
three-star1879
naphthous1885
paraffiny1902
propellant1919
pro-knock1927
high-octane1931
hi-octane1934
unleaded1934
monopropellant1949
nonleaded1955
super unleaded1978
1931 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 7 Dec. 18 (caption) Scientifically regulated combustion did it—the same principle that gives high Octane ‘Standard’ Gasoline its extra punch in your motor.
1958 Times 6 Nov. 7/5 All high compression engines respond to high-octane, highly anti-knock fuel.
1972 M. Gilbert Body of Girl iv. 43 Filling the tank of an old Bentley with high-octane petrol.
1992 Sci. Amer. Apr. 88/1 Similar strategies..have enabled..researchers to develop high-octane gasolines from the hydroisomerization of a pentane-hexane mixture.
2005 D. Hammill How to Power Tune Jaguar XK 3.4, 3.8 & 4.2 Litre Engines (rev. ed.) 22/3 In the USA, there are three basic grades of street legal unleaded fuel on sale, plus high-octane unleaded fuel.
2. figurative. Vigorous, energetic; powerful; very intense. Cf. octane n. 3.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective]
sprindeOE
livelyOE
kaskc1300
wightc1300
courageousc1386
wighty14..
wieldya1413
ablec1440
tall of hand1530
sappy1558
energical1565
energetical1585
greenya1586
stout1600
strenuous1602
forceful?1624
actuous1626
vigorous1638
vivid1638
high-spirited1653
hearty1665
actuose1677
living1699
full-blooded1707
executive1708
rugged1731
sousing1735
energic1740
bouncing1743
two-fisted1774
energetic1782
zestful1797
rollicking1801
through-ganging1814
throughgoing1814
slashing1828
high-powered1829
high pressure1834
rip-roaring1834
red-blooded1836
ripsnorting1846
zesty1853
dynamic1856
throbbing1864
goey1875
torpedoic1893
kinky1903
zippy1903
go-at-it1904
punchy1907
up-and-at-'em1909
driving1916
vibranta1929
kinetic1931
zinging1931
high-octane1936
zingy1938
slam-bang1939
balls-to-the-wall1967
balls-out1968
ass-kicking1977
hi-octane1977
1936 Nevada State Jrnl. 4 Apr. 7/1 (headline) High octane piano-player is at liberty.
1974 E. Bowen Henry & Other Heroes iv. 77 Mother and Uncle Harry, whose bodies and brains happened to be huge, paired engines that ran on high-octane ambition.
1992 MacUser Nov. 32/2 For those who are into high-octane graphics processing, ninja-level number crunching and the like, an accelerator board..will help loads.
2005 Health Plus Jan. 55/1 To escape the pressures of playing such a high-octane character, Beverley's also developed an interest in aromatherapy.
2011 FourFourTwo Oct. 65/2 The new Chelsea boss simply can't keep still, which may explain his side's high-octane, high-pressure game.
B. n.
Chiefly U.S. High-octane fuel.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > fuel > chemical fuel > [noun] > liquid
naphthec1384
naphtha1543
paraffin1851
kerosene1854
octylene1857
shale-oil1857
coal oil1859
gasoline1863
octane1867
octene1868
octyne1877
gas1878
liquid fuel1889
petrol1895
mazut1897
white fuel1901
diesel oil1905
autogas1908
juice1909
sauce1918
power kerosene1919
petroil1921
ethyl1923
lox1923
kero1930
isooctane1932
high-octane1933
hi-octane1933
Calor1936
pool petrol1939
super1939
pool1940
derv1948
platformate1949
mixture1952
diesel1953
Mapp gas1962
gasohol1971
super unleaded1975
synoil1976
synjet1979
biodiesel1986
Orimulsion1987
1933 Monticello (Iowa) Express 29 June 6/2 (advt.) High Octane is like High Test in that it is a Power Gas with long mileage.
1967 Valley News (Van Nuys, Calif.) 19 Oct. (East Valley ed.) a40 (advt.) That's like getting 12 gallons of high-octane free.
2004 Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Florida) (Nexis) 27 Mar. b9 The Case dealership priced a gallon of unleaded regular Friday for $1.74, and a gallon of high octane for $1.86.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2014; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
adj.n.1931