[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

naphtha \naph"tha\ na^f"th.a or na^p"th.a, n. l.
   naphtha, gr. na`fqa, fr.ar. nafth, nifth.
   1. chem. 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.
      1913 webster

   2. chem. 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.
      1913 webster

   note: this term was applied by the earlier chemical writers
         to a number of volatile, strong smelling, inflammable
         liquids, chiefly belonging to the ethers, as the
         sulphate, nitrate, or acetate of ethyl. --watts.
         1913 webster

   naphtha vitrioli nl., naphtha of vitriol old chem.,
      common ethyl ether; -- formerly called sulphuric ether.
      see ether.
      1913 webster
see also:
crude petroleum mineral oil rock oil naphtha vitrioli sulphuric ether ether 

[2] : WordNet (r) 2.0

naphtha
     n : any of various volatile flammable liquid hydrocarbon
         mixtures; used chiefly as solvents

Naphtha >> N Words
Naphtha, definition of term: Naphtha
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