turpentine

CEFRB2

/ˈtɜː.pənˌtaɪn/

noun · verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A strong-smelling liquid used as a paint solvent.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A turpentine tree (genus Syncarpia).

Examples

  • You can clean a paintbrush with turpentine.

  • Tom's studio smells like turpentine.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
1
Synonyms
5

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A volatile essential oil now obtained from such oleoresin of from the wood of pine trees by steam distillation; a complex mixture of monoterpenes; now used as a solvent and paint thinner.

  2. Any oleoresin secreted by the wood or bark of certain trees.

verb

Extra meaning

  1. To drain resin from (a tree) for use in making turpentine.

More examples

In context

  • Turpentine timber was obtained from the forests outside Maryborough and Townsville, and shipped by rail and landing craft to Hayman Island.

Synonyms

Quick test

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After using oil paint she cleaned the brushes with a splash of blank.

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Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English terebentyne, terbentyne, turbentine, from Old French terbentine, turbentine, Latin terebinthīna, from terebintha, from Ancient Greek τερεβινθίνη (terebinthínē), from τερεβινθινος (terebinthinos), from τερέβινθος (terébinthos). Related to terpene and terpin; etymologically equivalent to terebinth + -ine.