First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
1turpentine
noun tur·pen·tine \ˈtər-pən-ˌtīn, ˈtər-pəm-\
: a type of oil with a strong smell that is used to make paint thinner and to clean paint brushes
Full 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
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Origin 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
Rhymes with TURPENTINE
aerodyne, agate line, alkaline, androgyne, anodyne, anticline, Apennine, aquiline, argentine, asinine, auld lang syne, Aventine, Ballantyne, balloon vine, battle line, borderline, bottom-line, Byzantine, calamine, calcimine, Caroline, catarrhine, Catiline, celandine, centerline, cisalpine, claymore mine, clementine, colubrine, columbine, Columbine, concubine, conga line, contour line, Coppermine, coralline, countermine, countersign, credit line, crystalline, cytokine, dessert wine, disincline, dollar sign, down-the-line, draw the line, eglantine, endocrine, equal sign, Esquiline, exocrine, fescennine, finish line, firing line, Florentine, gas turbine, genuine, gregarine, infantine, interline, intertwine, iodine, Johannine, knotty pine, leonine, Levantine, Liechtenstein, limber pine, lubber line, minus sign, monkeyshine, morning line, muscadine, on deadline, on the line, opaline, palatine, Palatine, Palestine, party line, passerine, picket line, porcupine, psittacine, realign, redefine, redesign, riverine, saccharine, sapphirine, saturnine, second-line, serpentine, service line, sibylline, Siegfried line, sixty-nine, sounding line, subalpine, sparkling wine, static line, steam turbine, story line, table wine, Theatine, three-point line, timberline, toe the line, transalpine, Tridentine, turnverein, underline, undermine, Ursuline, uterine, valentine, vespertine, viperine, vulturine, waterline, wind turbine, worry line
2turpentine
transitive verb
turpentinedturpentin·ing
Definition of TURPENTINE
1
: to apply turpentine to
2
: to extract turpentine from; especially : to tap (pine trees) in order to obtain turpentine
First Known Use of TURPENTINE
1759
TURPENTINE Defined for Kids
turpentine
noun tur·pen·tine \ˈtər-pən-ˌtīn\
Definition of TURPENTINE for Kids
: an oil made from resin and used as a solvent and as a paint thinner
Medical Dictionary
turpentine
noun tur·pen·tine \ˈtər-pən-ˌtīn, ˈtərp-əm-\
Medical Definition of TURPENTINE
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
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