petrolatum

[ pe-truh-ley-tuh m, -lah- ]

/ ˌpɛ trəˈleɪ təm, -ˈlɑ- /

noun

a yellowish or whitish, translucent, gelatinous, oily, semisolid, amorphous mass obtained from petroleum: used as a lubricant, rust preventive, in the manufacture of cosmetics, and in medicine as a protective dressing, emollient, and ointment base.

Words nearby petrolatum

petrol bomb, petrol engine, petrol pump, petrol station, petrol., petrolatum, petrolene, petroleum, petroleum benzin, petroleum ether, petroleum jelly

Origin of petrolatum

1885–90, Americanism; < New Latin; see petroleum, -ate²

Also called petroleum jelly.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for petrolatum

Melt the petrolatum and add the tincture of cantharides, and while cooling add the other ingredients.
Secrets of Wise Men, Chemists and Great Physicians|William K. David
Lard, petrolatum (or cosmoline or vaseline), cold cream and lanolin.
Essentials of Diseases of the Skin|Henry Weightman Stelwagon
The absorbing medium is then treated with a solvent of the caffeol, and the solution is separated from the petrolatum.
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers
These experiments did not show conclusively that no iodin was absorbed by the petrolatum during the process of solution.
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 2 of 2|Various

This use of liquid petrolatum and of petrolatum products generally is by no means novel.
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 1 of 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for petrolatum

petrolatum

/ (ˌpɛtrəˈleɪtəm) /

noun

a translucent gelatinous substance obtained from petroleum; used as a lubricant and in medicine as an ointment base and protective dressingAlso called: mineral jelly, petroleum jelly

Word Origin for petrolatum

C19: from petrol + Latin -atum -ate 1

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

Medicine definitions for petrolatum

petrolatum

[ pĕt′rə-lā′təm ]

n.

petroleum jelly