Pinene
/ˈpaɪniːn/noun
A colorless terpene hydrocarbon found chiefly in pine resin and the oils of several plants.
Did you know?Pinene is released by many conifers as part of their volatile resin chemistry, helping repel herbivores and communicate chemical danger through the air.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pī-nu-
“Pine tree; a reconstructed ancient root associated with the pine.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πίτυς (pitús)
“Pine tree, especially a resin-producing conifer.”
Classical Latin
Latin
pīnus
“Pine tree; the source of words connected with pine resin and timber.”
19th Century
French
pinène
“A chemical substance associated with pine oil; formed from French pin, “pine,” with the chemical suffix -ène.”
19th Century
Scientific English
pinene
“A terpene hydrocarbon identified in pine-derived essential oils.”
Modern English
English
pinene
“A naturally occurring compound, chiefly alpha-pinene and beta-pinene, responsible for much of the characteristic aroma of pine.”