PARAFFIN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does paraffin mean? 

• PARAFFIN (noun)
  The noun PARAFFIN has 3 senses:

1. from crude petroleum; used for candles and for preservative or waterproof coatings

2. a series of non-aromatic saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH(2n+2)

3. (British usage) kerosine

  Familiarity information: PARAFFIN used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PARAFFIN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

From crude petroleum; used for candles and for preservative or waterproof coatings

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

paraffin; paraffin wax

Hypernyms ("paraffin" is a kind of...):

wax (any of various substances of either mineral origin or plant or animal origin; they are solid at normal temperatures and insoluble in water)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A series of non-aromatic saturated hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH(2n+2)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

alkane; alkane series; methane series; paraffin; paraffin series

Hypernyms ("paraffin" is a kind of...):

aliphatic compound (organic compound that is an alkane or alkene or alkyne or their derivative)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "paraffin"):

butane (occurs in natural gas; used in the manufacture of rubber and fuels)

amine; aminoalkane (a compound derived from ammonia by replacing hydrogen atoms by univalent hydrocarbon radicals)

C2H6; ethane (a colorless odorless alkane gas used as fuel)

heptane (a colorless volatile highly flammable liquid obtained from petroleum and used as an anesthetic or a solvent or in determining octane ratings)

hexane (a colorless flammable liquid alkane derived from petroleum and used as a solvent)

methane (a colorless odorless gas used as a fuel)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(British usage) kerosine

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

paraffin; paraffin oil

Hypernyms ("paraffin" is a kind of...):

coal oil; kerosene; kerosine; lamp oil (a flammable hydrocarbon oil used as fuel in lamps and heaters)

 Context examples 

Paraffin is unaffected by most common chemical reagents but oxidizes readily.

(Paraffin, NCI Thesaurus)

The ACSB contains formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissues, fresh frozen tissues, malignant cell suspensions, fine needle aspirates, and cell lines from patients with HIV-related malignancies.

(AIDS and Cancer Specimen Bank, NCI Thesaurus)

Chlorinated paraffins, with chain lengths of C12 and chlorine contents of 60%, are reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens based on evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals.

(Chlorinated Paraffin, NCI Thesaurus)

A Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) block that resulted from a paraffin embedding procedure performed on a formalin fixed tissue specimen.

(Biospecimen, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

The neoplastic cells have rounded homogeneous nuclei and, on paraffin sections, a swollen, clear cytoplasm ('honeycomb' appearance).

(Oligodendroglioma, NCI Thesaurus/Adapted from WHO)

Paraffin is also a technical name for an alkane in general, but in most cases it refers specifically to a linear, or normal alkane.

(Paraffin, NCI Thesaurus)

Chlorinated paraffin is used as an extreme pressure lubricant, flame retardant and plasticizer.

(Chlorinated Paraffin, NCI Thesaurus)