paraffin

n. white substance that resembles wax (used in the manufacturing of medical preparations and other products)

Paraffin is a common name for a group of alkane hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2, where n is the number of carbon atoms. The simplest paraffin molecule is that of methane, CH4, a gas at room temperature. Heavier members of the series, such as that of  octane C8H18, appear as liquids at room temperature. The solid forms of paraffin, called paraffin wax, are from the heaviest molecules from C20 to C40. Paraffin wax was identified by Carl Reichenbach in 1830.
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Noun
1. from crude petroleum; used for candles and for preservative or waterproof coatings
(synonym) paraffin wax
(hypernym) wax
2. a non-aromatic saturated hydrocarbon with the general formula CnH(2n+2)
(synonym) methane series, alkane series, alkane
(hypernym) aliphatic compound
(hyponym) butane
3. British usage
(synonym) paraffin oil
(hypernym) kerosene, kerosine, lamp oil, coal oil

n. paraffin, white substance that resembles wax (used in the manufacturing of medical preparations and other products)

(n.)
Alt. of Paraffine