mastic

noun

mas·​tic ˈma-stik How to pronounce mastic (audio)
1
: an aromatic resinous exudate from mastic trees used chiefly in varnishes
2
: any of various pasty materials used as protective coatings or cements

Examples of mastic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Install them with much less hassle than conventional subway tile—no mastic or grout required. Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Jan. 2024 This cement tile requires zero grouting and is held in place with mastic. Marisa Spyker, Southern Living, 18 Dec. 2023 Alessandro’s uncle had a studio restoring antique furniture tucked in the gardens of Via Margutta, and there Alessandro would smell the glue and mastic and dream of the past lives of tables and armchairs. Chiara Barzini, Vogue, 28 Nov. 2023 Its list of nourishing ingredients includes beta glucan (which helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles), hibiscus (which protects against free-radical damage), and mastic (which helps to mattify and refine skin throughout the day). Talia Ergas, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2023 It's also flavored with cinnamon; mastiha, or mastic, which comes from mastic trees found on the Greek island of Chios; and ground mahlepi, made from the kernels of cherry pits. Joanne Kempinger Demski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 Dec. 2021 Apply the mastic with a caulk gun, but smooth over the bead with a gloved hand, a brush or a putty knife to ensure the material fills the gap. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2022 Cocktails raid the same pantry, featuring ingredients like fenugreek, mastic, and coriander. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Oct. 2022 Sahlep is a type of flour produced from orchids that provides a smooth velvety finish to the ice cream, while the mastic, a natural gum, adds a unique chewiness. Lisa Morrow, CNN, 25 Mar. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mastic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English mastik, from Latin mastiche, from Greek mastichē, probably back-formation from mastichan

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mastic was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near mastic

Cite this Entry

“Mastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mastic. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mastic

noun
mas·​tic ˈmas-tik How to pronounce mastic (audio)
: a yellow or greenish substance that oozes from cuts in the bark of a southern European tree and is used in varnish

Medical Definition

mastic

noun
mas·​tic ˈmas-tik How to pronounce mastic (audio)
: an aromatic resinous exudation obtained usually in the form of yellowish to greenish lustrous transparent brittle tears from incisions in a small southern European tree (Pistacia lentiscus) of the sumac family and used chiefly in varnishes (as for lining dental cavities)

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