English Explanatory Dictionary

mastic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. An evergreen shrub or small tree, Pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree), native to the Mediterranean.
  2. A hard, brittle, aromatic and transparent resin produced by this tree and used to make varnishes and chewing gum, and as a flavouring.
  3. An alcoholic liquor flavoured with this resin.
  4. Any of various cements, usually flexible and waterproof, used as an adhesive, sealant, caulk, or filler.

Pronunciation

/ˈmæstɪk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-mastic.wav

Word forms

mastic mastics mastich mastiche mastick

Etymology

From Middle English mastik, from Old French mastic, from Latin mastiche, from Ancient Greek μαστίχη (mastíkhē), from μαστιχάω (mastikháō, “to chew”) (note the chewing gum sense). Related to masticate. The broad sense for cements came via extension from predecessor cements made with the tree's resin. Doublet of mastika.

Synonyms

lentiscus lentisk tears of Chios

Related words

Mastichochoria Polyfilla

Derived words

black mastic false mastic masticin mastic tree yellow mastic

Translations

Arabic: عِلْك Arabic: مُصْطَكَى Arabic: رَمَاص Arabic: مستكة Azerbaijani: saqqız Catalan: màstic Czech: masticha Dutch: mastiek Dutch: mastaka Finnish: mastiksi Galician: almécega Galician: elemí German: Mastix Greek: μαστίχα Ancient Greek: μαστίχη Hebrew: מסטיקה Persian: مصطکی Polish: mastyks Russian: масти́ка Tagalog: almasiga Turkish: sakız Ottoman Turkish: ساقز Ukrainian: мастика
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