1. a tree native to China whose seeds yield tung oil used in paints and varnishes

Examples

• The tung tree produces nuts that are processed for their valuable oil.
• Tung oil is prized for its water-resistant properties in wood finishing.
• Farmers in the southern United States began cultivating tung trees in the early 1900s.
• The tung plantation covered several acres of the hillside.
• Traditional Chinese craftsmen have used tung oil for centuries to protect wooden items.