Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Language: German
Origin: Latin parum 'too little' + affinis 'related'; because it does not easily make compounds with other substances

paraffin

 noun
     
Related topics: Gas, Coal, Oil
par‧af‧fin [uncountable]
1 British EnglishTPG a kind of oil used for heating and in lamps, made from petroleum or coal [= kerosene American English]
2 also paraffin wax British English a soft white substance used for making candles, made from petroleum or coal
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
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