pinene

American  

[pahy-neen] / ˈpaɪ nin /

noun

Chemistry.

1. a liquid terpene, C 1 0 H 1 6 , the principal constituent of oil of turpentine, found in other essential oils: used chiefly in the manufacture of camphor.

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pinene British  

/ ˈpaɪniːn /

noun

1. either of two isomeric terpenes, found in many essential oils and constituting the main part of oil of turpentine. The commonest structural isomer ( α-pinene ) is used in the manufacture of camphor, solvents, plastics, and insecticides. Formula: C 10 H 16

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Etymology

Origin of pinene

First recorded in 1880–85; pine ¹ + -ene

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pinene

A University of California patent application filed in April 2025 and published in October 2025 describes adding alpha pinene or beta pinene to localized insecticide injections for western drywood termites.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 19, 2026

It states that adding pinene to localized treatments killed termites more quickly and increased final mortality compared with insecticide alone.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2026

The method, detailed in the Journal of Economic Entomology, uses a pleasant-smelling chemical released by forest trees called pinene that reminds western drywood termites of their food.

From Science Daily ● May 31, 2024

"Even at low concentrations, pinene is good at attracting termites from a distance," Choe said.

From Science Daily ● May 31, 2024

The principal constituents of the oil are limonene and citral, together with small quantities of pinene, phellandrene, octyl and nonyl aldehydes, citronellal, geraniol, geranyl acetate, and the stearopten, citraptene.

From The Handbook of Soap Manufacture by W. H. Simmons

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