naphtha

noun

naph·​tha ˈnaf-thə How to pronounce naphtha (audio)
nonstandard
ˈnap- How to pronounce naphtha (audio)
1
: any of various volatile often flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures used chiefly as solvents and diluents
2

Examples of naphtha in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lawrence could not say what quantity of naphtha was involved. Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023 China Petroleum & Chemical’s net profit in the first half fell over 19% on year, mainly due to weak demand for chemical and certain refinery products, including naphtha and petroleum coke. P.r. Venkat, WSJ, 28 Aug. 2023 The fire began before 7 a.m. Central time after a petroleum product called naphtha leaked from a storage tank at the Marathon Petroleum refinery in Garyville. Justine McDaniel, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2023 Biological waste is a source of organic and renewable versions of naphtha and methane, compounds typically involved in paint production. Sami Haj-Assaad, Car and Driver, 1 Oct. 2022 The Cardon refinery’s naphtha reformer, with a capacity of 45,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), produces high-octane components for gasoline and is key to the country’s gasoline supply. The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2022 At the same time as the U.S. refinery supply squeeze, European countries weaning themselves off exports of Russian oil and naphtha—a petroleum product used to make fuel—are looking to the U.S. to supply more of the world’s fuel. Sophie Mellor, Fortune, 18 May 2022 To make plastic, the petroleum is first refined into naphtha and then into plastic materials such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Austen Hufford, WSJ, 23 Mar. 2022 Two years later, 13 miners were buried alive in the central shaft of the tunnel when a candle ignited naphtha fumes, setting off an explosion and filling the shaft with water. BostonGlobe.com, 24 Sep. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'naphtha.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek, of Iranian origin; akin to Persian neft naphtha

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of naphtha was in 1543

Dictionary Entries Near naphtha

Cite this Entry

“Naphtha.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naphtha. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

naphtha

noun
naph·​tha ˈnaf-thə How to pronounce naphtha (audio) ˈnap- How to pronounce naphtha (audio)
: any of various often flammable liquids prepared from coal or petroleum and used especially to dissolve substances

Medical Definition

naphtha

noun
naph·​tha ˈnaf-thə How to pronounce naphtha (audio) ˈnap- How to pronounce naphtha (audio)
: any of various volatile often flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures used chiefly as solvents and diluents

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