Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having a high octane number and thus reducing knock and increasing efficiency in high-performance engines.
  • adjective Slang High-powered; dynamic.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective of fuel having a high octane number, good anti-knock characteristics; used in high performance vehicles
  • adjective by extension high powered, energetic, forceful or dynamic

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective used of gasoline; having a high octane number
  • adjective vigorously energetic or forceful

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Indeed, from its outset, English has been about high-octane collisions with languages that its speakers never expected to encounter.

    The English Is Coming! Leslie Dunton-Downer 2010

  • Indeed, from its outset, English has been about high-octane collisions with languages that its speakers never expected to encounter.

    The English Is Coming! Leslie Dunton-Downer 2010

  • The bulk of the criticism levied against the Tea Party has been directed at their most visible absurdities: the laughable primitivity of O'Donnell, Rand Paul, and Sharron Angle, the drawing of Hitler mustaches on the president (and occasionally on themselves), Glenn Beck's high-octane McCarthyism, the unhinged nativist fashion shows, etc.

    Daniel Cluchey: The Price of Tea Daniel Cluchey 2010

  • The high-octane thriller also has a John Hughes-inspired, sentimental young romance between Gosling and his co-star, Carey Mulligan.

    Ryan Gosling turns tough guy for thriller "Drive" Reuters 2011

  • The bulk of the criticism levied against the Tea Party has been directed at their most visible absurdities: the laughable primitivity of O'Donnell, Rand Paul, and Sharron Angle, the drawing of Hitler mustaches on the president (and occasionally on themselves), Glenn Beck's high-octane McCarthyism, the unhinged nativist fashion shows, etc.

    Daniel Cluchey: The Price of Tea Daniel Cluchey 2010

  • The bulk of the criticism levied against the Tea Party has been directed at their most visible absurdities: the laughable primitivity of O'Donnell, Rand Paul, and Sharron Angle, the drawing of Hitler mustaches on the president (and occasionally on themselves), Glenn Beck's high-octane McCarthyism, the unhinged nativist fashion shows, etc.

    Daniel Cluchey: The Price of Tea Daniel Cluchey 2010

  • FG: Barbara, we're really getting to the root of the matter here because your response ultimately raises a crucial question: what are the respective roles of parents and teachers in this modern, high-octane society?

    Are the school summer holidays just too long? 2011

  • The high-octane thriller also has a John Hughes-inspired, sentimental young romance between Gosling and his co-star, Carey Mulligan.

    Ryan Gosling turns tough guy for thriller "Drive" Reuters 2011

  • As we put them into high-octane situations, they need each other to survive.

    CSI: Miami Producer: "You're Going to Meet a New Horatio Caine" 2010

  • The drawback is that investors 'prudence is likely to make this a lower-grade rally than the high-octane one that preceded it, says Barclays Capital strategist Talley Leger.

    Investors Pump Up With Barbell Strategy Kelly Evans 2010

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