paraffin

[ par-uh-fin ]

/ ˈpær ə fɪn /

noun

a white or colorless, tasteless, odorless, water-insoluble, solid substance not easily acted upon by reagents, consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons chiefly of the alkane series, obtained from crude petroleum: used in candles, for forming preservative coatings and seals, for waterproofing paper, etc.

Chemistry.

any member of the alkane series.
one of the higher members of the alkane series, solid at ordinary temperatures, having a boiling point above 300°C, which largely constitutes the commercial form of this substance.

Also called paraffin oil .British. kerosene.

verb (used with object)

to cover or impregnate with paraffin.

Origin of paraffin

1830–40; <German <Latin par(um) barely + aff(īnis) connected + -in²; so called from its slight affinity for other substances; see affinity

Words nearby paraffin

paradoxical respiration, paradoxical sleep, paradrop, paraesthesia, par. aff., paraffin, paraffine, paraffinic, paraffinize, paraffinoid, paraffinoma

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for paraffin

On light-weight goods the softener giving the most general satisfaction is paraffin.
Textiles|William H. Dooley
Pour it into glasses and put it in the sunshine for two days, then cover with paraffin and put it away.
Living on a Little|Caroline French Benton
A paraffin test was also run of Oswald's cheek and it produced a negative result.
Warren Commission (3 of 26): Hearings Vol. III (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
The Captain groaned, but what he said more Julia did not hear; she went out into the kitchen to get paraffin.
The Good Comrade|Una L. Silberrad

The best fuel, taking everything into consideration, is a paraffin candle in cold climates, and a stearine candle in hot ones.
The A B C of Mining|Charles A. Bramble

British Dictionary definitions for paraffin

paraffin

less commonly paraffine (ˈpærəˌfiːn)

/ (ˈpærəfɪn) /

noun

Also called: paraffin oil, (esp US and Canadian) kerosene a liquid mixture consisting mainly of alkane hydrocarbons with boiling points in the range 150°–300°C, used as an aircraft fuel, in domestic heaters, and as a solvent

another name for alkane

See paraffin wax

See liquid paraffin

verb (tr)

to treat with paraffin or paraffin wax

Word Origin for paraffin

C19: from German, from Latin parum too little + affinis adjacent; so called from its chemical inertia

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for paraffin

paraffin

[ păr′ə-fĭn ]

A waxy, white or colorless solid mixture of hydrocarbons made from petroleum and used to make candles, wax paper, lubricants, and waterproof coatings. Also called paraffin wax

See alkane.

单词	paraffin
释义	paraffin [ par-uh-fin ] / ˈpær ə fɪn / noun a white or colorless, tasteless, odorless, water-insoluble, solid substance not easily acted upon by reagents, consisting of a mixture of hydrocarbons chiefly of the alkane series, obtained from crude petroleum: used in candles, for forming preservative coatings and seals, for waterproofing paper, etc. Chemistry. any member of the alkane series. one of the higher members of the alkane series, solid at ordinary temperatures, having a boiling point above 300°C, which largely constitutes the commercial form of this substance. Also called paraffin oil .British. kerosene. verb (used with object) to cover or impregnate with paraffin. Origin of paraffin 1830–40; <German <Latin par(um) barely + aff(īnis) connected + -in²; so called from its slight affinity for other substances; see affinity Words nearby paraffin paradoxical respiration, paradoxical sleep, paradrop, paraesthesia, par. aff., paraffin, paraffine, paraffinic, paraffinize, paraffinoid, paraffinoma Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 Example sentences from the Web for paraffin On light-weight goods the softener giving the most general satisfaction is paraffin. Textiles\|William H. Dooley Pour it into glasses and put it in the sunshine for two days, then cover with paraffin and put it away. Living on a Little\|Caroline French Benton A paraffin test was also run of Oswald's cheek and it produced a negative result. Warren Commission (3 of 26): Hearings Vol. III (of 15)\|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy The Captain groaned, but what he said more Julia did not hear; she went out into the kitchen to get paraffin. The Good Comrade\|Una L. Silberrad The best fuel, taking everything into consideration, is a paraffin candle in cold climates, and a stearine candle in hot ones. The A B C of Mining\|Charles A. Bramble British Dictionary definitions for paraffin paraffin less commonly paraffine (ˈpærəˌfiːn) / (ˈpærəfɪn) / noun Also called: paraffin oil, (esp US and Canadian) kerosene a liquid mixture consisting mainly of alkane hydrocarbons with boiling points in the range 150°–300°C, used as an aircraft fuel, in domestic heaters, and as a solvent another name for alkane See paraffin wax See liquid paraffin verb (tr) to treat with paraffin or paraffin wax Word Origin for paraffin C19: from German, from Latin parum too little + affinis adjacent; so called from its chemical inertia Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Scientific definitions for paraffin paraffin [ păr′ə-fĭn ] A waxy, white or colorless solid mixture of hydrocarbons made from petroleum and used to make candles, wax paper, lubricants, and waterproof coatings. Also called paraffin wax See alkane. The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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