par·af·fin (păr'ə-fĭn)
n.

1. A waxy white or colorless solid hydrocarbon mixture used to make candles, wax paper, lubricants, and sealing materials. Also called paraffin wax.
2. Chemistry. A member of the alkane series.
3. Chiefly British. Kerosene.

tr.v., -fined, -fin·ing, -fins.
To saturate, impregnate, or coat with paraffin.

[German : Latin parum, little, not very + Latin affīnis, associated with (from its lack of affinity with other materials); see affined.]

paraffinic par'af·fin'ic adj.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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