tung oil (tʌŋ)

—n
	Also called: Chinese wood oil a fast-drying oil obtained from the seeds of a central Asian euphorbiaceous tree, Aleurites fordii, used in paints, varnishes, etc, as a drying agent and to give a water-resistant finish

[partial translation of Chinese yu t'ung tung tree oil, from yu oil + t'ung tung tree]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Encyclopedia Britannica

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tung oil

pale-yellow, pungent drying oil obtained from the seeds of the tung tree. On long standing or on heating, tung oil polymerizes to a hard, waterproof gel that is highly resistant to acids and alkalies. It is used in quick-drying varnishes and paints, as a waterproofing agent, and in making linoleum, oilcloth, and insulating compounds. Tung oil is produced chiefly in China from the tung tree (q.v.; Aleurites fordii).

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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