tincture

1 of 2

noun

tinc·​ture ˈtiŋ(k)-chər 

1

: a solution of a medicinal substance in an alcoholic solvent

2

a

: a characteristic quality : cast

b

: a slight admixture : trace

a tincture of doubt

3

a

: color, tint

b

archaic : a substance that colors, dyes, or stains

4

: a heraldic metal, color, or fur

5

obsolete : an active principle or extract

tincture

2 of 2

verb

tinctured; tincturing ˈtiŋ(k)-chə-riŋ 

-shriŋ

transitive verb

1

: to tint or stain with a color : tinge

2

a

: to infuse or instill with a property or entity : impregnate

b

: to imbue with a quality : affect

writing tinctured with wit and wisdom

Did you know?

A droplet of this, a skosh of that. Now you take that home, throw it in a beaker, and add a touch of ethyl alcohol to hold it all together—baby, you’ve got a tincture going. Tincture is a word with a colorful past most often encountered today in reference to a solution consisting of a medicinal substance mixed with alcohol, as in “Carl weathers his cold with a tincture of echinacea.” When the word first appeared in English in the 14th century, tincture referred to a substance used to color, dye, or stain, but by the 17th century the word had acquired several additional meanings, including “a slight infusion or trace of something.” This sense is still in use today, especially figuratively, as when an aspiring actor is said to feel a “tincture of doubt that the acting lessons are worth what he paid.”

Synonyms

Noun

• cast
• color
• hue
• shade
• tinge
• tint
• tone

Verb

• bepaint [archaic]
• color
• dye
• paint
• pigment
• stain
• tinge
• tint

Examples of tincture in a Sentence

Noun

a ragged shirt that seemed to be stained with the tincture of blood

Verb

clouds tinctured by the rays of the setting sun

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

What to drink: The oro cima ($11) with reposado, Mezcal Verde, passion fruit, Ancho Reyes Verde, pineapple, lime, honey and fire tincture. —Megan Stringer, Axios, 25 Nov. 2024

Today, tinctures made with Monotropa uniflora are sold on various online platforms. —Nina Foster, JSTOR Daily, 25 Oct. 2024

Verb

The orchestral arrangements are tinctured with dissonance; sustained synthesizer tones slide on and off pitch, feeling precarious. —Jon Pareles, New York Times, 31 Mar. 2020

That sartorial elegance bespoke a deep embrace of tradition, tinctured with just the right amount of satire to be amusing. —Roger Kimball, WSJ, 15 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin tinctura act of dyeing, from tinctus, past participle of tingere to tinge

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3b

Verb

1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

tincture

noun

tinc·​ture

ˈtiŋ(k)-chər

1

: a substance that colors, dyes, or stains

2

: a solution that contains a medical substance (as a drug) mixed with alcohol

tincture of iodine

Medical Definition

tincture

noun

tinc·​ture ˈtiŋ(k)-chər 

: a solution of a medicinal substance in an alcoholic or hydroalcoholic menstruum compare liquor sense b