kerosene

American  

[ker-uh-seen, kar-, ker-uh-seen, kar-] / ˈkɛr əˌsin, ˈkær-, ˌkɛr əˈsin, ˌkær- /

Or kerosine

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.

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adjective

1. using or fueled by kerosene.

   a kerosene lamp.

kerosene British  

/ 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

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kerosene Scientific  

/ kĕr′ə-sēn′ /

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.

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Usage

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

Etymology

Origin of kerosene

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

Example Sentences

Sitting atop 250 tons of burning kerosene and liquid oxygen, his face flattened by a g-load that would cause an ordinary human to pass out—and he asks how the other guy is doing.

From Literature

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

From BBC

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

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From BBC

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

From BBC

Related Words

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