Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

naphthene

noun
naph·​thene | \ ˈnaf-ˌthēn How to pronounce naphthene (audio) , nonstandard ˈnap- How to pronounce naphthene (audio) \

Definition of naphthene

: cycloparaffin

Other Words from naphthene

naphthenic \ ˌnaf-​ˈthē-​nik How to pronounce naphthenic (audio) , nonstandard  ˌnap-​ , -​ˈthe-​ \ adjective

First Known Use of naphthene

1884, in the meaning defined above

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about naphthene

Statistics for naphthene

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for naphthene

The first known use of naphthene was in 1884

See more words from the same year

More from Merriam-Webster on naphthene

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with naphthene

Comments on naphthene

What made you want to look up naphthene? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

misnomer

Listen to the pronounciation of misnomer

a wrong name or inappropriate designation

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Summer 2019 Words of the Day Quiz

  • a-bowl-of-peach-sorbet-with-cut-peaches-next-to-it
  • Which is a synonym of desideratum?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games