paraffin
noun
par·af·fin
ˈper-ə-fən
ˈpa-rə-
1
a
: a waxy crystalline flammable substance obtained especially from distillates of wood, coal, petroleum, or shale oil that is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and is used chiefly in coating and sealing, in candles, in rubber compounding, and in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics
b
: any of various mixtures of similar hydrocarbons including mixtures that are semisolid or oily
2
: alkane
3
chiefly British
: kerosene
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