Meaning & use
tung oil
Last updated
UK/ˈtʌŋ ˌɔɪl/
US/ˈtʌŋ ˌɔɪl/
Meaning
noununcountabletechnical
A golden drying oil pressed from the seeds of the tung tree, used to protect and finish wood.
Grammar: Not counted: apply two coats of tung oil.
Patterns
- finish something with tung oil
- a coat of tung oil
He rubbed tung oil into the table to bring out the grain.
Pure tung oil takes several days to cure fully.
The boat's deck was treated with tung oil every spring.
Common combinations
- pure tung oil
- Pure tung oil is food safe once fully cured.
- apply tung oil
- Apply tung oil with a lint-free cloth.
- coat of tung oil
- Add a second coat of tung oil after a day.
- tung oil finish
- A tung oil finish gives wood a soft sheen.
Synonyms and how they differ
- linseed oil
- Linseed oil is cheaper and darkens more over time, while tung oil is more water resistant.
- varnish
- Varnish forms a hard film on top of wood, whereas tung oil soaks in and leaves a more natural surface.
- Danish oil
- Danish oil is a blend that often includes varnish, so it dries faster than pure tung oil.
Word family
Commonly confused: tung oil or tongue oil?
tung oil vs tongue oil
This is a mistaken spelling. The word is tung, which comes from a Chinese word for the tree.
Practice
What is tung oil mainly used for?
Choose one answer.
Tung oil soaks into wood and hardens as it dries, protecting the surface. It is not a cooking or machine oil.
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