Terpene
WordNet
noun
(1) An unsaturated hydrocarbon obtained from plants
WiktionaryText
Noun
- A very large class of naturally occurring and synthetic organic compounds formally derived from the hydrocarbon isoprene; they include many volatile compounds used in perfume and food flavours, turpentine, the steroids, the carotene pigments and rubber.
Usage notes
Terpenes are properly only hydrocarbons. Oxygenated derivatives are terpenoids.
Hyponyms
- diterpene
- monoterpene
- polyterpene
- sesquiterpene
- sesterterpene
- tetraterpene
- triterpene
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