noun / verb
turpentine
TUR-pun-tyne/ˈtɜːrpəntaɪn/
A solvent distilled from pine resin.
The artist cleans the paintbrush in turpentine beside the bottle and pine resin.
Etymology
The name originally referred to resin from the terebinth tree. It later broadened to resinous substances from conifers, connecting that older tree-resin name with today's pine-derived solvent.
In context
a distillation of resin and this distillation goes under many names sometimes called spirit of turpentine or essence of turpentine
More examples
- Keep the turpentine tightly sealed and away from open flames.
- A little turpentine helps remove oil paint from the palette.
- She turpentines the paint-stained brush before washing it with soap.
Forms
turpentine · turpentines · turpentined · turpentining
Similar words
- mineral spirits
- A petroleum-based solvent often used instead of pine-derived turpentine.
- paint thinner
- A broader category of solvents, not necessarily distilled from pine.