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paraffin

Syllabification: (par·af·fin)
Pronunciation: /ˈparəfin/
Translate paraffin | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of paraffin

noun

(also paraffin wax)
  • a flammable, whitish, translucent, waxy solid consisting of a mixture of saturated hydrocarbons, obtained by distillation from petroleum or shale and used in candles, cosmetics, polishes, and sealing and waterproofing compounds.
  • (also paraffin oil or liquid paraffin) British a colorless, flammable, oily liquid similarly obtained and used as fuel, especially kerosene.
  • Chemistryold-fashioned term for alkane.

Origin:

mid 19th century: from German, from Latin parum 'little' + affinis 'related' (from its low reactivity)

Spell paraffin with one r and a double f.

paraffin in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of paraffin in the British & World English dictionary

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