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