ine
ine — adjective suffix
1. a suffix added to a noun to form an adjective that means connected with or belon
a suffix added to a noun to form an adjective that means connected with or belonging to a particular group, class, or place — for example, 'equine' meaning connected with horses, or 'marine' meaning connected with the sea.
The marine biology students spent the summer studying coral reefs off Taiwan's coast.
marine ← Latin mare (sea)
The local equine clinic provides vaccinations and dental care for horses across the farming region.
equine ← Latin equus (horse)
The alpine village of Zermatt receives heavy snowfall each winter and attracts skiers from around the world.
Zayd adopted a timid feline from the shelter and named the grey cat Pepper.
Pedro took a course in bovine nutrition to help his family's dairy cows produce better milk and stay healthy.
文法句型
[noun] + -ine → adjective
用法筆記
Only forms adjectives from noun stems of Latin origin; does not attach freely to Germanic or other loanwords. The base noun often refers to an animal group, a geographical feature, or a class of living things.
常見錯誤
2. a suffix added to a noun to form an adjective that means resembling or composed
a suffix added to a noun to form an adjective that means resembling or composed of the base substance — for example, 'crystalline' meaning like crystal in appearance or structure, or 'adamantine' meaning unbreakably hard like diamond.
The surface of Crater Lake was so still that the moonlight created a crystalline shimmer across the water.
crystalline ← crystal + -ine
Sofia studied the serpentine path of the river as it wound through the narrow valley.
serpentine ← serpent (snake) + -ine
After her check-up, Ayesha switched to an alkaline diet rich in leafy greens to help balance her body's acid levels.
The mountaineer showed adamantine determination as she pushed toward the summit through the blizzard.
Grandfather's leonine mane of white hair and deep voice made him a striking figure at family dinners.
文法句型
[noun] + -ine → adjective
用法筆記
Frequently used in literary or scientific writing rather than everyday speech. The base noun typically denotes a hard material, a precious substance, or a specific shape or creature.
ine — noun suffix
1. a suffix used to form nouns that name chemical substances, especially halogens (
a suffix used to form nouns that name chemical substances, especially halogens (like chlorine and iodine), nitrogen-containing compounds found in plants (like caffeine and quinine), hydrocarbon mixtures (like gasoline), and hydrides.
Eve drinks only decaffeinated coffee because the caffeine in regular coffee keeps her awake.
caffeine — a stimulant found in coffee beans
The swimming pool had a strong smell of chlorine, which irritated Paul's eyes and throat.
chlorine — a halogen element used for disinfection
Andrei filled the car's tank with gasoline and checked the tyre pressure before the trip.
The doctor prescribed a small dose of morphine to manage the patient's post-surgery pain.
The nurse used iodine to clean the wound when Theo scraped his knee at the playground.
文法句型
[stem] + -ine → noun (chemical)
用法筆記
The specific class of substance (halogen, alkaloid, hydrocarbon) depends on the stem. Halogens (-ine) are elemental; alkaloids (-ine) are nitrogen-based organic compounds from plants; fuels (-ine, -oline) are hydrocarbon mixtures.
2. a suffix used as an alternative spelling of '-in' in the names of certain chemic
a suffix used as an alternative spelling of '-in' in the names of certain chemical substances, particularly in British English — for example, 'gelatine' (also 'gelatin') used in cooking and pharmaceuticals.
The recipe calls for three sheets of gelatine to make the strawberry jelly set properly.
gelatine — variant spelling of gelatin
Rania soaked three sheets of gelatine in cold water for ten minutes before adding them to the fruit mousse.
gelatine sheets — common cooking form
The pharmacist explained that gelatine capsules dissolve quickly in the stomach so the medicine inside can be absorbed fast.
British cookbooks usually list gelatine as an ingredient, while American ones use gelatin.
文法句型
[stem] + -ine → noun (variant of -in)
用法筆記
The -ine suffix in this sense is interchangeable with -in in most cases. '-ine' is more common in British English for words like 'gelatine' and 'codeine'; '-in' dominates in American English and for newer chemical names.
常見錯誤
3. a suffix used to form nouns that name branded commercial products or materials s
a suffix used to form nouns that name branded commercial products or materials sold under trade names for everyday consumer use — for example, 'Vaseline' for petroleum jelly, or 'nylon' for synthetic fiber.
Sandra added a few drops of liquid saccharine to sweeten her morning tea without using sugar.
saccharine — artificial sweetener sold as a consumer product
Heather applied a thin layer of Vaseline to her lips to protect them from the cold wind.
Vaseline — brand name for petroleum jelly
The outdoor supply store sells nylon ropes and backpacks for hiking trips in the mountains.
Rachid spread margarine on his toast every morning because margarine costs less than butter and has less saturated fat.
Elena used paraffine wax to seal the jars of homemade jam for the winter season.
文法句型
[stem] + -ine → noun (product name)
用法筆記
Common in product names for items sold commercially, such as Vaseline (petroleum jelly), nylon (synthetic fiber), and margarine (butter substitute).