terpene noun. ['tǝ:pi:n] L19.
[from German Terpentin TURPENTINE + -ENE.]
Chemistry. Any of a class of volatile aromatic hydrocarbons with the formula C₁₀H₁₆ and typically of isoprenoid structure, many of which occur in essential plant oils, esp. of conifers and citrus trees. More widely, any terpenoid.

■ terpeneless adjective having no terpenes; spec. (of an essential oil) having had terpene components removed to prevent spoiling by oxidation: E20.

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