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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.


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
“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


verb

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

turpentine

/ tûrpən-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.


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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
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of turpentine1

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

Highsmith often said that her mother had told her that she’d tried to abort her by drinking turpentine.

It tastes a little like turpentine, but loses this taste more and more the riper it gets.

He washed the cement floor with the hose, and while waiting for it to dry he rinsed his brushes in turpentine.

In addition, dyes, wood turpentine, dry ice and various insecticides are produced in Virginia.

If you put a little siccative de Harlem in it, or use any picture varnish thinned with turpentine, it will serve well enough.

Spirits of turpentine rubbed in around the base of the horns, will arrest the disease in its incipient stages.

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TURPturpentine tree