turpentine

[ tur-puhn-tahyn ]

noun

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

verb (used with object)

, tur·pen·tined, tur·pen·tin·ing.

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

turpentine

/ ˈtɜːpənˌtaɪn /

noun

1. Also calledgum 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
2. a brownish-yellow sticky viscous oleoresin that exudes from the terebinth tree
3. Also calledoil of turpentinespirits 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 toturps
4. Also calledturpentine substitutewhite spirit not in technical usage any one of a number of thinners for paints and varnishes, consisting of fractions of petroleum terebinthine

verb

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

turpentine

/ tûr′pən-tīn′ /

1. 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: C 10 H 16 .
2. The sticky mixture of resin and oil from which this oil is distilled.

Other Words From

• tur·pen·tin·ic [tur-p, uh, n-, tin, -ik], tur·pen·tin·ous [tur-p, uh, n-, tin, -, uh, s, ‑-, tahy, -n, uh, s], tur·pen·tin·y [tur, -p, uh, n-tahy-nee], adjective
• un·turpen·tined adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of turpentine¹

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 -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of turpentine¹

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

Example Sentences

Between the dark folds of canvas tents, sacks of grain, and barrels of turpentine, I could see the roving shadows of men.

From Literature

Sitting below the desk are cartons of Turpenoid, a thin and odorless turpentine substitute that Steir uses to dilute her pigments.

From New York Times

Inactive ingredients include turpentine oil and methyl salicylate.

From Seattle Times

His ancestors first applied it to “sweat” out the pine’s lucrative sap distilled into turpentine or exported as sealants.

From Seattle Times

Like you, many people miss this old-fashioned remedy derived from natural sources such as eucalyptus, oregano, thyme or turpentine.

From Seattle Times