terpinene

noun

ter·​pi·​nene

-pəˌnēn

plural -s

: any of three liquid isomeric monocyclic terpene hydrocarbons C₁₀H₁₆ obtained usually in mixtures of the alpha and gamma isomers (as by isomerization of pinene, alpha-phellandrene, or dipentene with sulfuric acid): such as

a

: the isomer that has an odor like that of lemons and is the principal component of the mixtures and that occurs in coriander oil, chenopodium oil, and other essential oils; 1,3-para-mentha-diene

called also alpha-terpinene

b

: the isomer that occurs in coriander oil, lemon oil, and other essential oils; 1,4-para-menthadiene

called also crithmene, gamma-terpinene

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary terpin + -ene

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