Definition of TINCTURE

tincture

Plural: tinctures

Noun

  • a substances that colors metals
  • an indication that something has been present
    • "a tincture of condescension"
  • a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color
  • (pharmacology) a medicine consisting of an extract in an alcohol solution
  • Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  • A pigment or other substance that colours or dyes; specifically, a pigment used as a cosmetic.
  • Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  • A colour or tint, especially if produced by a pigment or something which stains; a tinge.
  • Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  • A slight addition of a thing to something else; a shade, a touch, a trace.
  • Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  • A hue or pattern used in the depiction of a coat of arms.
  • Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  • The act of colouring or dyeing.
  • Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  • A slight physical quality other than colour (especially taste), or an abstract quality, added to something; a tinge.
  • Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  • A small flaw; a blemish, a stain.
  • Senses relating to colour, and to dipping something into a liquid.
  • Synonym of baptism.
  • Scientific and alchemical senses.
  • A medicine consisting of one or more substances dissolved in ethanol or some other solvent.
  • Scientific and alchemical senses.
  • A (small) alcoholic drink.
  • Scientific and alchemical senses.
  • An immaterial substance or spiritual principle which was thought capable of being instilled into physical things; also, the essence or spirit of something.
  • Scientific and alchemical senses.
  • A material essence thought to be capable of extraction from a substance.
  • Scientific and alchemical senses.
  • The part of a substance thought to be essential, finer, and/or more volatile, which could be extracted in a solution; also, the process of obtaining this.

Verb

Verb Forms: tincture, tinctured, tincturing, tinctures

  • To impart a slight color or dye to something.
  • fill, as with a certain quality
    • "The heavy traffic tinctures the air with carbon monoxide"
  • stain or tint with a color
    • "The leaves were tinctured with a bright red"
  • To colour or stain (something) with, or as if with, a dye or pigment.
  • Followed by with: to add to or impregnate (something) with (a slight amount of) an abstract or (obsolete) physical quality; to imbue, to taint, to tinge.
  • To dissolve (a substance) in ethanol or some other solvent to produce a medicinal tincture.
  • To have a taint or tinge of some quality.

Examples

  • a tincture of orange peel
  • The new word TINCTURED the board with possibilities, yet none seemed perfect.
  • tincture of iodine;   tincture of cannabis;   tincture of opium

Origin / Etymology

The noun is derived from Late Middle English tincture (“a dye, pigment; a colour, hue, tint; process of colouring or dyeing; medicinal ointment or salve (perhaps one discolouring the skin); use of a medicinal tincture; (alchemy) transmutation of base metals into gold; ability to cause such transmutation; substance supposed to cause such transmutation”) [and other forms], borrowed from Latin tīnctūra (“act of dyeing”) + Middle English -ure (suffix indicating an action or a process and the means or result of that action or process). Tīnctūra is derived from tīnctus (“coloured, tinged; dipped in; impregnated with; treated”) + -tūra (suffix forming action nouns expressing activities or results); while tīnctus is the perfect passive participle of tingō (“to colour, dye, tinge; to dip (in), immerse; to impregnate (with); to moisten, wet; to smear”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to dip; to soak”). Doublet of tainture, teinture, and tinctura.
The verb is derived from the noun.

Synonyms

impregnate, infuse, instill, shade, shadow, tint, tone, trace, vestige, adult beverage, alcohol, baptism, bevvy, booze, carouse, drink, grog, libation, liquor, lush, nightcap, potation, potent potable, sauce, shot, strong-water, tiddly, tincture, tipple

Scrabble Score: 10

tincture: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
tincture: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
tincture: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

tincture: valid Words With Friends Word