turpentine

[ tur-puh n-tahyn ]
/ ˈtɜr pənˌtaɪn /

noun

any of various oleoresins derived from coniferous trees, especially the longleaf pine, Pinus palustris, and yielding a volatile oil and a resin when distilled.
Also called Chian turpentine. an oleoresin exuded by the terebinth, Pistacia terebinthus.
oil of turpentine.

verb (used with object), tur·pen·tined, tur·pen·tin·ing.

to treat with turpentine; apply turpentine to.
to gather or take crude turpentine from (trees).

Origin of turpentine

1275–1325; late Middle English, alteration of Middle English ter(e)bentyn(e) < Medieval Latin ter(e)bentīna, for Latin terebinthīna, noun use of feminine of terebinthīnus of the turpentine tree, equivalent to terebinth(us) turpentine tree (< Greek terébinthos) + -īnus -ine1

OTHER WORDS FROM turpentine

tur·pen·tin·ic [tur-puh n-tin-ik] /ˌtɜr pənˈtɪn ɪk/, tur·pen·tin·ous [tur-puh n-tin-uh s, ‐tahy-nuh s] /ˌtɜr pənˈtɪn əs, ‐ˈtaɪ nəs/, tur·pen·tin·y [tur-puh n-tahy-nee] /ˈtɜr pənˌtaɪ ni/, adjective un·tur·pen·tined, adjective

Words nearby turpentine

turnup, turnverein, turophile, turophobia, turp, turpentine, turpentine tree, turpeth, turpin, turpitude, turps

Example sentences from the Web for turpentine

British Dictionary definitions for turpentine

turpentine
/ (ˈtɜːpənˌtaɪn) /

noun

Also called: gum turpentine any of various viscous oleoresins obtained from various coniferous trees, esp from the longleaf pine, and used as the main source of commercial turpentine
a brownish-yellow sticky viscous oleoresin that exudes from the terebinth tree
Also called: oil of turpentine, spirits of turpentine a colourless flammable volatile liquid with a pungent odour, distilled from turpentine oleoresin. It is an essential oil containing a mixture of terpenes and is used as a solvent for paints and in medicine as a rubefacient and expectorant Sometimes (esp Brit) shortened to: turps
Also called: turpentine substitute, white spirit (not in technical usage) any one of a number of thinners for paints and varnishes, consisting of fractions of petroleum Related adjective: terebinthine

verb (tr)

to treat or saturate with turpentine
to extract crude turpentine from (trees)

Word Origin for turpentine

C14 terebentyne, from Medieval Latin terbentīna, from Latin terebinthīna turpentine, from terebinthus the turpentine tree, terebinth

Scientific definitions for turpentine

turpentine
[ tûr′pən-tīn′ ]

A thin, easily vaporized oil that is distilled from the wood or resin of certain pine trees. It is used as a paint thinner and solvent. Chemical formula: C10H16.
The sticky mixture of resin and oil from which this oil is distilled.