paraffin wax

noun

1. paraffin in its solid state.

paraffin wax

noun

1. a white insoluble odourless waxlike solid consisting mainly of alkane hydrocarbons with melting points in the range 50°–60°C, used in candles, waterproof paper, and as a sealing agent Also calledparaffin

paraffin wax

1. See paraffin

Word History and Origins

Origin of paraffin wax¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Photos of the substance began cropping up on a beachcombers group online, prompting speculation that it was fungus or mold, palm oil, paraffin wax or even ambergris - a rare and valuable substance produced by whales and used in the perfume industry.

From BBC

Because the lower mantle was not totally melted by the impact, the blobs of iron-rich material from Theia stayed largely intact as they sifted down to the base of the mantle, like the colored masses of paraffin wax in a turned-off lava lamp.

From Science Daily

The New Castle Fire Department said that at least some of the cars that derailed contained paraffin wax, which is used to make candles, and soybeans.

From Seattle Times

The new design uses small paraffin wax pads infused with scents that are heated by an electrode to release an odor.

From Scientific American

Oil from Willow is expected to help the 46-year-old Trans Alaska Pipeline, whose daily flow has dropped to fewer than a half-million barrels from two million barrels in 1988, a rate so slow that it leads to periodic buildup of ice and paraffin wax inside the pipeline.

From New York Times