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oil of turpentine

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Turpentine \Tur"pen*tine\, n. [F. t['e]r['e]bentine, OF. also
   turbentine; cf. Pr. terebentina, terbentina, It. terebentina,
   trementina; fr. L. terebinthinus of the turpentine tree, from
   terebinthus the turpentine tree. Gr. ?, ?. See {Terebinth}.]
   A semifluid or fluid oleoresin, primarily the exudation of
   the terebinth, or turpentine, tree ({Pistacia Terebinthus}),
   a native of the Mediterranean region. It is also obtained
   from many coniferous trees, especially species of pine,
   larch, and fir.

   Note: There are many varieties of turpentine. Chian
         turpentine is produced in small quantities by the
         turpentine tree ({Pistacia Terebinthus}). Venice,
         Swiss, or larch turpentine, is obtained from {Larix
         Europ[ae]a}. It is a clear, colorless balsam, having a
         tendency to solidify. Canada turpentine, or Canada
         balsam, is the purest of all the pine turpentines (see
         under {Balsam}). The Carpathian and Hungarian varieties
         are derived from {Pinus Cembra} and {Pinus Mugho}.
         Carolina turpentine, the most abundant kind, comes from
         the long-leaved pine ({Pinus palustris}). Strasburg
         turpentine is from the silver fir ({Abies pectinata}).

   {Oil of turpentine} (Chem.), a colorless oily hydrocarbon,
      {C10H16}, of a pleasant aromatic odor, obtained by the
      distillation of crude turpentine. It is used in making
      varnishes, in medicine, etc. It is the type of the
      terpenes and is related to cymene. Called also
      {terebenthene}, {terpene}, etc.

   {Turpentine moth} (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of
      small tortricid moths whose larv[ae] eat the tender shoots
      of pine and fir trees, causing an exudation of pitch or
      resin.

   {Turpentine tree} (Bot.), the terebinth tree, the original
      source of turpentine. See {Turpentine}, above.

Source : WordNet®

oil of turpentine
     n : volatile liquid distilled from turpentine oleoresin; used as
         paint thinner and solvent and medicinally [syn: {turpentine},
          {spirit of turpentine}, {turps}]
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