linseed oil

noun

1. a drying oil obtained by pressing flaxseed, used in making paints, printing inks, linoleum, etc.

linseed oil

noun

1. a yellow oil extracted from seeds of the flax plant. It has great drying qualities and is used in making oil paints, printer's ink, linoleum, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of linseed oil¹

First recorded in 1540–50

Example Sentences

Taking a bottle of powdered cadmium sulfide pigment off a shelf, she mixed it with linseed oil and then brushed it on microscope slides to dry.

From Science Daily

“I made it in my garden shed with a bag of cadmium red and some linseed oil. It’s probably really toxic. I shouldn’t have done it. It still uses cadmium to this day, which is why it carries such a strong warning when artists use it. But honestly, I can’t find a better pigment,” he said.

From Seattle Times

Each one measures 5 feet, 6 inches in length and is finished with linseed oil.

From Washington Post

Q: We placed a fall gourd as a decoration on our curly maple dining table, which is finished only with linseed oil that we apply periodically.

From Washington Post

Linseed oil reacts with oxygen in the air to create a plasticlike finish.

From Washington Post