paraffin (redirected from Wax, petroleum)

paraffin /par·af·fin/ (par´ah-fin)

1. a purified hydrocarbon wax used for embedding histological specimens and as a stiffening agent in pharmaceutical preparations.

2. alkane.

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liquid paraffin  mineral oil.

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paraffin

[per′əfin]

Etymology: L, parum, little + affinis, related

any of a group of hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon mixtures of the paraffin series as indicated by the formula, C_nH_(2n+2). Examples include methane gas, kerosene, and paraffin wax. Also called alkane.

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paraffin (par´fin),

n a group of hydrocarbons or hydrocarbon mixtures of the paraffin series as indicated by the formula C₁₁H_(2n+2). Examples include methane gas, kerosene, and paraffin wax.

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paraffin

1. a purified hydrocarbon wax used for embedding histological specimens.

2. a saturated hydrocarbon used as a fuel oil. Poisoning causes gastroenteritis and aspiration pneumonia, the latter being secondary to vomiting. Called also alkane, kerosene, lamp oil. See also oil.

3. petrolatum.

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paraffin embedding technique

the most commonly used technique for the preparation of slides of tissue for light microscopic examination.

liquid paraffin

liquid petrolatum. See mineral oil.