\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.