kerosene

Or ker·o·sine

[ker-uh-seen, kar-, ker-uh-seen, kar-]

noun

1. a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained by distilling petroleum, bituminous shale, or the like, and widely used as a fuel, cleaning solvent, etc.

adjective

1. using or fueled by kerosene.

   a kerosene lamp.

kerosene

/ ˈkɛrəˌsiːn /

noun

1. Also called: paraffin. 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

2. the general name for paraffin as a fuel for jet aircraft

kerosene

1. A thin, light-colored oil that is a mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. The hydrocarbons in kerosene contain between 11 and 12 carbon atoms. Kerosene is used as a fuel in lamps, home heaters and furnaces, and jet engines.

Usage

The spelling kerosine is now the preferred form in technical and industrial usage

Word History and Origins

Origin of kerosene¹

1852; irregular < Greek kērós wax + -ene; formerly trademark

Word History and Origins

Origin of kerosene¹

C19: from Greek kēros wax + _-ene

Example Sentences

With no electricity, many in Latin America cook with firewood or kerosene, risking respiratory illness.

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"The drugs consume the sanity of those who abuse them," says Maham, "like a fire burns when kerosene is poured on it."

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Shakespeare deploys his poetry like kerosene on an already raging fire.

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The company said the decision would "safeguard fuel supply for Scotland" by converting the site into a terminal able to import petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and kerosene into Scotland.

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By burning traditional jet fuel - kerosene - aircraft release carbon dioxide, a planet-warming gas.

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Related Words

• crude oil 
• fossil fuel 
• fuel 
• gas 
• gasoline 
• natural gas 
• petrol