mastic

[ mas-tik ]

noun
  1. Also called mastic tree, lentisk. a small Mediterranean tree, Pistacia lentiscus, of the cashew family, that is the source of an aromatic resin used in making varnish and adhesives.

  2. any of several similar or related trees, as a pepper tree, Schinus molle, of western South America.

  1. the resin obtained from the mastic.

  2. any similar resin, especially one yielded by other trees of the same genus.

  3. Building Trades.

    • any of various preparations containing bituminous materials and used as an adhesive or seal.

    • a pasty form of cement used for filling holes in masonry or plaster.

Origin of mastic

1
1350–1400; Middle English mastyk<Latin mastichē<Greek mastíchē chewing gum, akin to mastichân to gnash the teeth

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How to use mastic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mastic

mastic

/ (ˈmæstɪk) /


noun
  1. an aromatic resin obtained from the mastic tree and used as an astringent and to make varnishes and lacquers

  2. mastic tree

    • a small Mediterranean anacardiaceous evergreen tree, Pistacia lentiscus, that yields the resin mastic

    • any of various similar trees, such as the pepper tree

  1. any of several sticky putty-like substances used as a filler, adhesive, or seal in wood, plaster, or masonry

  2. a liquor flavoured with mastic gum

Origin of mastic

1
C14: via Old French from Late Latin mastichum, from Latin, from Greek mastikhē resin used as chewing gum; from mastikhan to grind the teeth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012