See Also: turpentine(dictionary)
turpentine(encyclopedia)
turpentine(dictionary)
turpentine oil(medicine)
oil of turpentine(medicine)
Turpentine(medicine)
turpentine enema(medicine)
Venice turpentine(medicine)
turpentine poisoning(medicine)
turpentine spirit(medicine)

turpentine (iou)



turpentine noun & verb. ME.
[Old French ter(e)bentine from Latin ter(e)benthina (sc. resina resin), from terebinthus TEREBINTH: see -INE1.]
A. noun.
Orig. (more fully Chian turpentine) the sticky fragrant resin of the terebinth tree (see sense 2). Now (more fully crude turpentine, gum turpentine, turpentine gum), any of various viscous oleoresins which exude from coniferous trees, esp. pines, and can be distilled to yield gum rosin and oil of turpentine. Freq. with specifying word. ME.
Strasbourg turpentine, Venice turpentine, etc.
a. The fruit of the terebinth tree. Only in M16.
b. The terebinth tree, Pistacia terebinthus; the related P. palaestina; any of various conifers and other trees yielding turpentine or a similar resin; Austral. the tree Syncarpia glomulifera, of the myrtle family. L16.
In full oil of turpentine, spirits of turpentine. A volatile essential oil with a pungent odour, obtained by the distillation of gum turpentine or pine wood, consisting chiefly of -pinene and diterpene, and used chiefly as a solvent and paint thinner, and in medical liniments. Cf. TURPS. L16.
Comb.: turpentine beetle a N. American scolytid beetle, Dendroctonus valens, which burrows under the bark of pines etc.; turpentine gum: see sense 1 above; turpentine oil = sense 3 above; Turpentine State US the State of North Carolina; turpentine still an apparatus for distilling oil of turpentine from pine wood or crude turpentine; turpentine substitute any of various paint and varnish thinners derived from petroleum; turpentine-tree = sense 2b above; turpentine weed any of several plants exuding a resinous sap; esp. the prairie dock, Silphium terebenthinaceum.
b. verb trans. Treat with turpentine, apply turpentine to. M18.
turpentiny adjective covered with or containing turpentine, resembling turpentine in smell etc. M18.