petrolatum

[ pe-truh-ley-tuh m, -lah- ]
/ ˌpɛ trəˈleɪ təm, -ˈlɑ- /

noun

a yellowish or whitish, translucent, gelatinous, oily, semisolid, amorphous mass obtained from petroleum: used as a lubricant, rust preventive, in the manufacture of cosmetics, and in medicine as a protective dressing, emollient, and ointment base.
Also called petroleum jelly.

Origin of petrolatum

1885–90, Americanism; < New Latin; see petroleum, -ate2

Example sentences from the Web for petrolatum

British Dictionary definitions for petrolatum

petrolatum
/ (ˌpɛtrəˈleɪtəm) /

noun

a translucent gelatinous substance obtained from petroleum; used as a lubricant and in medicine as an ointment base and protective dressing Also called: mineral jelly, petroleum jelly

Word Origin for petrolatum

C19: from petrol + Latin -atum -ate 1

Medical definitions for petrolatum

petrolatum
[ pĕt′rə-lātəm ]

n.

petroleum jelly