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kerosene

3 synonyms and 0 antonyms for kerosene, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A light petroleum-based fuel used for jet engines, heating, and lighting, thinner than diesel but heavier than petrol.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

kerosine lamp oil coal oil

How to use kerosene

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

kerosene lamp kerosene heater aviation kerosene

Etymology

Coined from the Ancient Greek kērós ("wax") plus the chemical suffix "-ene"; it was trademarked as a name in 1854 before becoming a generic term.

Full origin of kerosene →

Frequently asked questions

What does “kerosene” mean?

The word “kerosene” means a light petroleum-based fuel used for jet engines, heating, and lighting, thinner than diesel but heavier than petrol. In plain terms, a common fuel oil used for heating, lamps, and jet engines.

How do you pronounce “kerosene”?

“Kerosene” is pronounced KEH-ruh-seen (/ˈkɛɹəsiːn/ in IPA).

How do you use “kerosene” in a sentence?

Here is “kerosene” used in a sentence: “The cabin was lit by a kerosene lamp long before electricity arrived.”

What part of speech is “kerosene”?

“Kerosene” is a noun.

Where does the word “kerosene” come from?

The word “kerosene” dates back to around 1854 and comes from Ancient Greek. Coined from the Ancient Greek kērós ("wax") plus the chemical suffix "-ene"; it was trademarked as a name in 1854 before becoming a generic term.

Nearby words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.