- 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.
- a translucent gelatinous substance obtained from petroleum; used as a lubricant and in medicine as an ointment base and protective dressing
