Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Turpentine

Tur′pen-tine

(tûr′pĕn-tīn)
,
Noun.
[F.
térébenthine
, OF. also
turbentine
; cf. Pr.
terebentina
,
terbentina
, It.
terebentina
,
trementina
; fr. L.
terebinthinus
of the turpentine tree, from
terebinthus
the turpentine tree. Gr.
τερέβινθος
,
τέρμινθος
. See
Terebinth
.]
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.
☞ There are many varieties of turpentine. Chian turpentine is produced in small quantities by the turpentine tree (
Pistacia Terebinthus
). Venice, Swiss, or larch turpentine, is obtained from
Larix Europaea
. It is a clear, colorless balsam, having a tendency to solidify. Canada turpentine, or Canada balsam, is the purest of all the pine turpentines (see under
Balsam
). The Carpathian and Hungarian varieties are derived from
Pinus Cembra
and
Pinus Mugho
. Carolina turpentine, the most abundant kind, comes from the long-leaved pine (
Pinus palustris
). Strasburg turpentine is from the silver fir (
Abies pectinata
).
Oil of turpentine
(Chem.)
,
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
(Zool.)
,
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
(Bot.)
,
the terebinth tree, the original source of turpentine. See
Turpentine
, above.

Webster 1828 Edition


Turpentine

TUR'PENTINE

,
Adj.
[L. terebinthina.] A transparent resinous substance, flowing naturally or by incision from several species of trees, as from the pine, larch, fir, &c. Common turpentine is of about the consistence of honey; but there are several varieties.

Definition 2024


turpentine

turpentine

English

Noun

turpentine (countable and uncountable, plural turpentines)

  1. A volatile essential oil obtained from the wood of pine trees by steam distillation; it is a complex mixture of monoterpenes; it is used as a solvent and paint thinner.

Synonyms

Derived terms

Translations

Related terms

Verb

turpentine (third-person singular simple present turpentines, present participle turpentining, simple past and past participle turpentined)

  1. (transitive) To drain resin from (a tree) for use in making turpentine.