kerosene

noun

ker·​o·​sene ˈker-ə-ˌsēn  ˌker-ə-ˈsēn 

variants or less commonly kerosine

: a flammable hydrocarbon oil usually obtained by distillation of petroleum and used as a fuel, solvent, and thinner

Examples of kerosene in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The use of devices similar to tiki torches, candles, open flame kerosene lanterns are prohibited in the back country wilderness. —Buffalo National River, arkansasonline.com, 29 Oct. 2024

Next to us, on a blanket, a group of Danish teenagers used a kerosene camp stove to prepare a roll of cinnamon buns. —Jonah Walters, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024

The sparsely furnished rooms are heated only by portable kerosene heaters, and there are no modern bathrooms or showers. —Christine Balling, Foreign Affairs, 8 Feb. 2017

There were a ton of hair tonics that were made with a large percentage of alcohol, some would have kerosene in them. —Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Greek kēros + English -ene (as in camphene)

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

kerosene

noun

ker·​o·​sene

variants also kerosine

ˈker-ə-ˌsēn 

ker-ə-ˈsēn,

ˈkar-,

ˌkar-

: a thin oil obtained from petroleum and used as a fuel and solvent

Medical Definition

kerosene

noun

ker·​o·​sene

variants also kerosine

ˈker-ə-ˌsēn  ˌker-ə-ˈ 

ˈkar-,

ˌkar-

: a flammable hydrocarbon oil usually obtained by distillation of petroleum and used for a fuel and as a solvent and thinner (as in insecticide emulsions)