a thin oil distilled from petroleum or shale oil, used as a fuel, solvent, illuminant, etc.; coal oil
also, esp. in scientific and industrial usage, sp. kerosine
Origin:
Gr kēros, wax + -ene
See kerosene in American Heritage Dictionary 4
also ker·o·sine
noun
A thin oil distilled from petroleum or shale oil, used as a fuel for heating and cooking, in lamps, and as a denaturant for alcohol. Also called coal oil, lamp oil.