Word Study
vaseline
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun vaseline has 1 sense
CIDE DICTIONARY
vaseline, n. [Said by the manufacturer to be derived from G. wasser water + Gr. 'e`laion olive oil.].
A yellowish translucent substance, almost odorless and tasteless, obtained as a residue in the purification of crude petroleum, and consisting essentially of a mixture of several of the higher members of the paraffin series. It is used as an unguent, and for various purposes in the arts. See the Note under Petrolatum. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
vaseline, n. & v.
--n. propr. a type of petroleum jelly used as an ointment, lubricant, etc.
--v.tr. (vaseline) treat with Vaseline.
--n. propr. a type of petroleum jelly used as an ointment, lubricant, etc.
--v.tr. (vaseline) treat with Vaseline.
Etymology
irreg. f. G Wasser + Gk elaion oil
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