Turpentine /(tûr"pĕn*tīn)/
Tur·pen·tine
Turpentine
n.
- A semifluid or fluid oleoresin, primarily the exudation of the terebinth, or turpentine, tree (Pistacia Terebinthus), a native of the Mediterranean region. It is also obtained from many coniferous trees, especially species of pine, larch, and fir.
Phrases & Compounds
- Oil of turpentine
- a colorless oily hydrocarbon, C10H16, of a pleasant aromatic odor, obtained by the distillation of crude turpentine. It is used in making varnishes, in medicine, etc. It is the type of the terpenes and is related to cymene. Called also terebenthene, terpene, etc.
- Turpentine moth
- any one of several species of small tortricid moths whose larvae eat the tender shoots of pine and fir trees, causing an exudation of pitch or resin.
- Turpentine tree
- the terebinth tree, the original source of turpentine. See Turpentine, above.