Definition

A liquid made from the resin of certain pine trees, used as a paint thinner and solvent, and sometimes for medicinal purposes.

Example

The artist used turpentine to clean his brushes after painting.

Conversation

I was cleaning my brushes and realized I ran out of turpentine.

Oh no! That's essential for thinning the paint.

Yeah, I guess I'll have to pick some up before my next painting session.

Definitely! It really helps to get the right consistency.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

To apply or mix a type of oil obtained from pine trees, often used as a solvent or in paint.

Example

The artist decided to turpentine the brushes to clean them after painting.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Have you ever thought about how they turpentine trees to get that resin?

Yeah, it's fascinating how they extract it from the bark.

I wonder if anyone still does that for making varnish or paint.

Root Explanation

Turpentine originates from the Latin word 'turpentina', which is derived from 'turpentinus' (meaning of or pertaining to turpentine) and 'turp' (meaning resin). The word refers to a resin obtained from pine trees, used as a solvent and in varnishes.

Memory Tip

Think of 'turpentine' as a substance derived from 'resin' ('turp') of pine trees, which helps you remember that it is a resinous product.

Visually Confused Words