Kerosene

Alternative forms

• kerosine

Origin

From Ancient Greek κηρός ("wax") + -ene.

Full definition of kerosene

Noun

1. (Canadian, US) A petroleum based thin and colorless fuel; (British) paraffin.
• 2013-08-03, Yesterday’s fuel, The dawn of the oil age was fairly recent. Although the stuff was used to waterproof boats in the Middle East 6,000 years ago, extracting it in earnest began only in 1859 after an oil strike in Pennsylvania....It was used to make kerosene, the main fuel for artificial lighting after overfishing led to a shortage of whale blubber. Other liquids produced in the refining process, too unstable or smoky for lamplight, were burned or dumped.
2. The kerosene lasted all winter, so the furnace kept us always warm.

Derived terms

• biokerosene

Synonyms

• coal oil
• kero
• lamp oil