turpentine

play

noun tur·pen·tine \ ˈtər-pən-ˌtīn , ˈtər-pᵊm- \

Definition of turpentine

1 a :a yellow to brown semifluid oleoresin obtained as an exudate from the terebinth

b :an oleoresin obtained from various conifers (as some pines and firs)

2 a :an essential oil obtained from turpentines by distillation and used especially as a solvent and thinner — called also gum turpentine

b :a similar oil obtained by distillation or carbonization of pinewood — called also wood turpentine

See turpentine defined for English-language learners

See turpentine defined for kids

Recent Examples of turpentine from the Web

For the crime of refusing to cross back to Virginia, one boy was horribly mutilated, doused in turpentine, his genitals sliced off, and left to die in a barn by his Confederate captors.

— yoni appelbaum, The Atlantic, "Take the Statues Down," 13 Aug. 2017
To soothe cavities, Waters said her family relied on turpentine and cotton.

— andrea castillo, latimes.com, "Rep. Maxine Waters speaks out on Republican health care bill at packed town hall meeting, as protesters gather outside," 24 June 2017
AFC foresters have inspected numerous spots, and the trees appear to be dying from a range of pests, including Southern pine beetle, Ips engraver beetle, and black turpentine beetle, or a combination of all three.

— joe songer | jsonger@al.com, AL.com, "Damage from the 2016 drought is evident across Alabama," 10 May 2017
WAR AND TURPENTINEBy Stefan Hertmans Translated by David McKay Illustrated.

— dominic smith, New York Times, "Review: ‘War and Turpentine,’ a Grandfather’s Painful Life AUG. 4, 2016," 17 Aug. 2016
World's Weirdest: Hedgehogs Love Poisons Hedgehogs lather up with turpentine, tobacco, and other toxic substances.

— National Geographic, "Roly-Poly Hedgehogs Loving Life in the City," 5 July 2016
World's Weirdest: Hedgehogs Love Poisons Hedgehogs lather up with turpentine, tobacco, and other toxic substances.

— National Geographic, "Roly-Poly Hedgehogs Loving Life in the City," 5 July 2016
Two-thirds of the pine trees at the entrance are broken, snapped over into inverted V's, dripping turpentine tears, pointing their jagged splinters at the sky.

— by michael browning, miamiherald, "A desolated landscape: the toll of Hurricane Andrew," 25 Aug. 2015

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'turpentine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of turpentine

Middle English terbentyne, turpentyne, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French terebentine, from Medieval Latin terbentina, from Latin terebinthina, feminine of terebinthinus of terebinth, from terebinthus terebinth, from Greek terebinthos

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year