kerosene

UK: /ˈkɛrəsiːn/

US: /ˈkɛrəˌsin/

US: (ker′ə sēn′, kar′-, ker′ə sēn′, kar′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ker•o•sene /ˈkɛrəˌsin/   n. [uncountable]

1. Chemistry a liquid made from petroleum or shale, used as a fuel and cleaning solvent.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ker•o•sene  (ker′ə sēn′, kar′-, ker′ə sēn′, kar′-), n. 

1. Chemistry a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons obtained by distilling petroleum, bituminous shale, or the like, and widely used as a fuel, cleaning solvent, etc.

adj. 

2. Chemistry using or fueled by kerosene:
   a kerosene lamp.

Also, ker′o•sine′. 

• Greek kērós wax + -ene; formerly trademark
• irregularly 1852

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

kerosene, kerosine / ˈkɛrəˌsiːn/ noun

1. Also called: paraffin a liquid mixture consisting mainly of alkane hydrocarbons with boiling points in the range 150°–300°C, used as an aircraft fuel, in domestic heaters, and as a solvent
2. the general name for paraffin as a fuel for jet aircraft

Etymology: 19th Century: from Greek kēros wax + -eneUSAGE
The spelling kerosine is now the preferred form in technical and industrial usage