mastic
mastic — noun
1. a sticky sap of the mastic tree that dries into a clear yellow solid, valued for
a sticky sap of the mastic tree that dries into a clear yellow solid, valued for making varnishes and sealing teeth
Daichi bought a small jar of mastic resin to make his own wood varnish.
collocation: mastic resin (the raw form of the substance)
The old painting was coated with a thin layer of mastic to protect the colours.
Camille's dentist used a white mastic filling for the cavity in her back tooth.
Indra's family in Greece collects mastic tears from the trees every August.
The violin maker dissolved mastic in alcohol to create a clear protective varnish.
2. a thick paste that builders spread into cracks and joints to create a waterproof
a thick paste that builders spread into cracks and joints to create a waterproof seal
Tomás sealed the gap around the window frame with a tube of mastic.
typical usage: seal gaps with a tube of mastic
The plumber pressed grey mastic into the crack where the pipe met the wall.
Femi used waterproof mastic to fill the cracks in the bathroom tiles before painting.
A thick bead of mastic ran along the edge where the sink joined the counter.
The old mastic around the skylight had dried out and needed to be replaced entirely.
- caulk
the most common everyday term for the same type of gap-filling paste; sold in similar tubes at hardware stores
- putty
a stiffer paste used mainly for fixing window glass or filling small holes in wood
- sealant
a broader, more technical term for any material (paste, liquid, or tape) that blocks water or air