- The complex mixture of volatile, liquid, inflammable
hydrocarbons, occurring naturally, and usually called crude petroleum,
mineral oil, or rock oil. Specifically: That portion of the distillate
obtained in the refinement of petroleum which is intermediate between
the lighter gasoline and the heavier benzine, and has a specific
gravity of about 0.7, -- used as a solvent for varnishes, as a
carburetant, illuminant, etc. - One of several volatile inflammable liquids obtained by
the distillation of certain carbonaceous materials and resembling the
naphtha from petroleum; as, Boghead naphtha, from Boghead coal
(obtained at Boghead, Scotland); crude naphtha, or light oil, from coal
tar; wood naphtha, from wood, etc.
Definition
[ n.]