paraffin

• paraffine (dated)

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

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpæɹ.ə.fɪn/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɛɹ.ə.fɪn/

paraffin (countable and uncountable, plural paraffins)

1. (UK, Ireland) A petroleum-based thin and colourless fuel oil.

   Synonym: kerosene

   • 1919, W[illiam] Somerset Maugham, “chapter 57”, in The Moon and Sixpence, [New York, N.Y.]: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers […], →OCLC:

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

   • 2023 October 18, Tom Perkins, “Flame retardant pollution threatens wildlife on all continents, research finds”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     The paper found high levels of phased-out flame retardants like PCBs and PBDEs, as well as allegedly safe, newer replacements chemicals, such as chlorinated paraffins and organophosphates, across the globe.

2. (petrochemistry, organic chemistry) Any member of the alkane hydrocarbons.
3. Paraffin wax.

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

1. To impregnate or treat with paraffin.
2. To embed in paraffin wax.

paraffin n

1. paraffin wax, paraffin

   ost överdragen med paraffin

   cheese coated with paraffin wax

• paraffinera

• fotogen (“kerosene”)

• paraffin in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• paraffin in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• paraffin in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)