Turpentine is a colourless liquid used, for example, for cleaning paint off brushes.
turpentine in British English
(ˈtɜːpənˌtaɪn)
noun
1. Also called: gum 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 called: oil of turpentine, spirits 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 to: turps
4. Also called: turpentine substitute, white spirit(not in technical usage)
any one of a number of thinners for paints and varnishes, consisting of fractions of petroleum
▶ Related adjective: terebinthine
verb(transitive)
5.
to treat or saturate with turpentine
6.
to extract crude turpentine from (trees)
Word origin
C14 terebentyne, from Medieval Latin terbentīna, from Latin terebinthīna turpentine, from terebinthus the turpentine tree, terebinth
turpentine in American English
(ˈtɜrpənˌtaɪn)
noun
1.
the brownish-yellow, sticky, semifluid oleoresin exuding from the terebinth
2.
any of the various sticky, viscid oleoresins obtained from pines and other coniferous trees; gum turpentine
3.
a colorless, volatile essential oil, C10H16, distilled from such oleoresins and used in paints, varnishes, etc., and in medicine;spirits of turpentine; oil of turpentine
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈturpenˌtined or ˈturpenˌtining
4.
to apply turpentine to
5. US
to extract turpentine from (trees)
Derived forms
turpentinic (ˌturpenˈtinic) (ˈtɜrpənˈtɪnɪk)
adjective or ˌturpenˈtinous (ˈtɜrpənˈtaɪnəs)
Word origin
ME turpentyne < OFr terbentine < L terebinthinus, of the turpentine tree < terebinthus: see terebinth
Examples of 'turpentine' in a sentence
turpentine
The sudden darkness engulfed her, and her senses lurched at the familiar cool aroma of polish and turpentine.
Stewart, Michael COMPULSION (2001)
Violet comes running out of the house, a waft of oil paint and turpentine following.
Weldon, Fay SPLITTING (2001)
She squirmed back from the transom and sat up, capping the paint can and washing out the brush with turpentine, talking as she worked.
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT (2001)
Word lists with
turpentine
Industrial oils
All related terms of 'turpentine'
gum turpentine
→ turpentine (sense 2 )
turpentine tree
a tropical African leguminous tree, Copaifera mopane , yielding a hard dark wood and a useful resin
oil of turpentine
→ turpentine (sense 3 )
turpentine substitute
any of various viscous oleoresins obtained from various coniferous trees, esp from the longleaf pine , and used as the main source of commercial turpentine