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 fire department — some of whose members had publicly griped about Doherty and Lindsay — initially suggested the fire was an act of arson, with one firefighter stating so via the company’s dispatch and later noting the presence of turpentine, a flammable solvent. —Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025

Broadly defined, these were rope, tree trunks for use as masts, and liquid products taken from conifer trees like turpentine, rosin, pitch, and tar. —Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2025

Rosin bags are made from a sap that’s pulled from pine trees in Honduras, then boiled to distill out the turpentine. —Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2025

Includes a hefty dark aromatic slab of mushrooms, sage, boot black, turpentine and petrol. —Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025

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

• gum turpentine
• spirits of turpentine
• wood turpentine

Rhymes for turpentine

• acridine
• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• atropine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine

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 cashew family (Anacardiaceae)

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