n. any of a group of unsaturated hydrocarbons many of which are found in plant oils and resins and are responsible for the scent of these plants (e.g. mint). Larger terpenes include vitamin A, squalene, and the carotenoids.
Any of a group of hydrocarbons that are made up of building blocks of isoprene (C5H8) or similar five-carbon units, with a monoterpene made up of two units (example: limonene and pinene), a sesquiterpene made up of three units (example: humulene, a Hops aromatic), and a diterpene made up of four units. The terpenes, in our context, are the primary constituents in the aromatic fractions of our scented plants.... terpenes
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