paraffin

English

Etymology

Latin paraffinum from parum (too little) + affinis (related, affinity). Therefore low affinity or being chemically neutral

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA: /ˈpɛɹ.ə.fɪn/

Alternative forms

• paraffine

Noun

Wikipedia paraffin (plural paraffins)

1. (UK) A petroleum based thin and colorless fuel oil, (kerosene in US English).
   • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 57

     She poured paraffin on the dry floors and on the pandanus-mats, and then she set fire.

2. (chemistry) Any member of the alkane hydrocarbons.
3. paraffin wax.

Derived terms

• chloroparaffin

Translations

kerosene — see kerosene

alkane hydrocarbon

• Dutch: paraffine (nl)
• Estonian: alkaan (et)
• Finnish: alkaani (fi)

• Italian: paraffina (it) f
• Polish: parafina (pl) f, alkan (pl) m
• Spanish: parafina (es) f

paraffin wax — see paraffin wax

Verb

paraffin (third-person singular simple present paraffins, present participle paraffining, simple past and past participle paraffined)

1. To impregnate or treat with paraffin

Translations

treat with paraffin

• Italian: paraffinare (it)
• Polish: parafinować (pl)

• Romanian: parafina (ro)