tincture
/ˈtɪŋktʃə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɪŋktʃɚ] /ˈtɪŋktʃər/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɪŋktʃɚ] /ˈtiŋ(k)-chər How to pronounce tincture (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tincture — noun
- tincturesingular
- tincturesplural
1. A liquid medicine made by soaking herbs or other substances in strong alcohol so
A liquid medicine made by soaking herbs or other substances in strong alcohol so that the active ingredients dissolve into the liquid, usually taken in small drops.
Lin bought a small bottle of herbal tincture from the pharmacy to help her sleep.
collocation: herbal tincture
The doctor told Priya to add ten drops of the tincture to a glass of water each evening.
dosage pattern: drops of tincture + water
Many traditional medicine systems use alcohol-based tinctures to preserve the active compounds found in plants.
A tincture of iodine was kept in the first-aid box for disinfecting minor cuts and scrapes.
The herbalist prepared a calming tincture from chamomile and lavender flowers soaked in brandy.
文法句型
tincture + of + drug/substance
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' plus the name of the active drug or herb (a tincture of iodine, a tincture of arnica). Common in pharmacy, herbalism, and alternative medicine contexts.
常見錯誤
2. A substance, such as a dye or pigment, used to give colour to something like fab
A substance, such as a dye or pigment, used to give colour to something like fabric, wood, or metal.
The artist prepared a golden tincture by boiling turmeric root in water.
tincture + prepared from + source material
In traditional Japanese woodworking, a dark tincture made from iron and tea is used to colour wooden surfaces.
Ancient scribes used a red tincture crushed from cochineal insects to illuminate important letters in manuscripts.
Fatima applied a blue tincture to the silver pendant to create an aged, antique look.
文法句型
tincture + of + source material
3. A very small amount or subtle sign of a quality, feeling, or substance that can
A very small amount or subtle sign of a quality, feeling, or substance that can be noticed but is not strong.
Sofia's voice carried a faint tincture of sadness as she talked about leaving her hometown.
tincture + of + emotion
The old letter had a tincture of formality that seemed strange to a modern reader accustomed to casual emails.
There was a tincture of sarcasm in his reply that made the other people at the table smile.
The dish had a tincture of bitterness that balanced the sweetness of the honey.
Kenji's speech carried a tincture of hope that lifted the mood of the entire room.
- trace
neutral and more common; works for both physical and abstract things
- hint
suggests something barely perceptible; slightly less formal than tincture
- touch
suggests a very small amount of something, often positive
- suggestion
implies something present but not fully developed or obvious
文法句型
a tincture + of + abstract noun
用法筆記
Followed by 'of' plus an abstract noun expressing a quality or emotion (sadness, humour, bitterness, hope). This sense is more literary and formal than the everyday word 'trace'.
常見錯誤
tincture — verb
- tincturepresent simple I / you / we / they
- tinctures3rd person singular
- tincturing-ing form
- tincturedpast simple
1. To give a slight colour to something, often in a way that changes its appearance
To give a slight colour to something, often in a way that changes its appearance gently.
The late afternoon sun tinctured the white walls of the town with a soft orange glow.
tinctured + with + colour
The window glass was tinctured a pale blue to keep the room cool during the summer heat.
passive: was tinctured + colour
A few drops of food colouring tinctured the cake icing a delicate shade of pink.
Autumn leaves tincture the forest floor with shades of red and gold each October.
文法句型
tincture + noun + colour
be tinctured with/by something
用法筆記
Often used in the passive form ('be tinctured'). Less common than everyday synonyms like 'tint' or 'tinge', and more likely to appear in literary or descriptive writing.
2. To fill or influence someone or something with a particular quality, feeling, or
To fill or influence someone or something with a particular quality, feeling, or characteristic in a subtle but noticeable way.
His years spent living in the mountains had tinctured his entire outlook with a deep respect for nature.
tinctured + with + abstract quality
The farewell speech was tinctured with a quiet sadness that moved everyone in the auditorium.
passive: was tinctured with + emotion
Fatima's writing is tinctured by the warmth and humour of the large family she grew up in.
The ceremony was tinctured with a sense of hope that seemed to touch everyone who attended.
文法句型
be tinctured with/by something
用法筆記
Almost always used in the passive ('be tinctured with/by'). This sense is distinctly literary and formal; in everyday conversation, simpler verbs like 'filled with' or 'marked by' are preferred.