turpentine

1 of 2

noun

tur·​pen·​tine ˈtər-pən-ˌtīn 

ˈtər-pᵊm-

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

turpentine

2 of 2

verb

turpentined; turpentining

transitive verb

1

: to apply turpentine to

2

: to extract turpentine from

especially : to tap (pine trees) in order to obtain turpentine

Examples of turpentine in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The way these things combine: a strip of cotton, a smear of paint, the smell of turpentine. —Mairead Small Staid, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2023

Lacking a studio of his own, write the authors in the paper, the artist was forced to use new cotton canvases (instead of reusing old ones, as was his habit), as well as purchase animal glue, oil paints based on linseed and sunflower oil, brushes, and turpentine. —Nora McGreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2021

Christopher Mantia, who grew up in Germantown and moved back seven years ago, said his water still smells like turpentine or WD-40 lubricant. —Maia Pandey, NBC News, 28 July 2023

Cheap gins were vile home brews, made with turpentine and sulfuric acid and sold from rank nooks and cellars. —Jeffrey Collins, WSJ, 23 June 2023

Summer vacations in Spain, France and Italy in 1958 and 1960 with Motherwell’s new wife, fellow artist Helen Frankenthaler, yielded new openness and color — even experimentation with Frankenthaler’s smearing effects with paint thinned by turpentine. —Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 16 June 2023

Starting at the edges of the paint stain, apply paint thinner or turpentine with a wet sponge or white cloth. —Elizabeth Berry, Good Housekeeping, 28 Mar. 2023

The parcel was formerly used for turpentine, agriculture and cattle grazing. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2023

Sponge the stain with turpentine. —Lauren Smith McDonough, Good Housekeeping, 2 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1759, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing turpentine

• spirits of turpentine
• gum turpentine
• wood turpentine

• spirits of turpentine
• gum turpentine
• wood turpentine

Kids Definition

turpentine

noun

tur·​pen·​tine

ˈtər-pən-ˌtīn

1

: a mixture of oil and resin obtained from pines and some related trees

2

: an oil made from turpentine and used especially as a solvent and paint thinner

Medical Definition

turpentine

noun

tur·​pen·​tine ˈtər-pən-ˌtīn, ˈtərp-ᵊm- 

1

a

: a yellow to brown semifluid oleoresin obtained as an exudate from the terebinth (Pistacia terebinthus) of the sumac family

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 oil of turpentine

b

: a similar oil obtained by distillation or carbonization of pinewood

called also wood turpentine