mastic

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: mas=tic

CIDE DICTIONARY

mastic, n. [F., fr. L. mastiche, mastichum, Gr. , fr. to chew, because of its being used in the East for chewing.].

•  A low shrubby tree of the genus Pistacia (Pistacia Lentiscus), growing upon the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean, and producing a valuable resin; -- called also, mastic tree.  [1913 Webster]
•  A resin exuding from the mastic tree, and obtained by incision. The best is in yellowish white, semitransparent tears, of a faint smell, and is used as an astringent and an aromatic, also as an ingredient in varnishes.  [1913 Webster]
•  A kind of cement composed of burnt clay, litharge, and linseed oil, used for plastering walls, etc.  [1913 Webster]

Barbary mastic (Bot.), the Pistachia Atlantica. -- Peruvian mastic tree (Bot.), a small tree (Schinus Molle) with peppery red berries; -- called also pepper tree. -- West Indian mastic (Bot.), a lofty tree (Bursera gummifera) full of gum resin in every part.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

mastic, n.
1 a gum or resin exuded from the bark of the mastic tree, used in making varnish.
2 (in full mastic tree) the evergreen tree, Pistacia lentiscus, yielding this.
3 a waterproof filler and sealant used in building.
4 a liquor flavoured with mastic gum.

Etymology

ME f. OF f. LL mastichum f. L mastiche f. Gk mastikhe, perh. f. mastikhao (see MASTICATE) with ref. to its use as chewing-gum

ROGET THESAURUS

mastic

Semiliquidity

N semiliquidity, stickiness, viscidity, viscosity, gummosity, glutinosity, mucosity, spissitude, crassitude, lentor, adhesiveness, inspissation, incrassation, thickening, jelly, mucilage, gelatin, gluten, carlock, fish glue, ichthyocol, ichthycolla, isinglass, mucus, phlegm, goo, pituite, lava, glair, starch, gluten, albumen, milk, cream, protein, treacle, gum, size, glue (tenacity), wax, beeswax, emulsion, soup, squash, mud, slush, slime, ooze, moisture, marsh, semifluid, semiliquid, tremellose, half melted, half frozen, milky, muddy, lacteal, lactean, lacteous, lactescent, lactiferous, emulsive, curdled, thick, succulent, uliginous, gelatinous, albuminous, mucilaginous, glutinous, glutenous, gelatin, mastic, amylaceous, ropy, clammy, clotted, viscid, viscous, sticky, tacky, gooey, slab, slabby, lentous, pituitous, mucid, muculent, mucous, gummy.

Resin

N resin, rosin, gum, lac, sealing wax, amber, ambergris, bitumen, pitch, tar, asphalt, asphaltum, camphor, varnish, copal, mastic, magilp, lacquer, japan, artificial resin, polymer, ion-exchange resin, cation-exchange resin, anion exchange resin, water softener, Amberlite, Dowex, Diaion, resiny, resinous, bituminous, pitchy, tarry, asphaltic, asphaltite.