tincture: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Technical, Literary
Quick answer
What does “tincture” mean?
A medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol.
A slight trace, flavor, or color; an imbuing of a quality; a tinge, shade, or hue; a solution or extract; in heraldry, a color or metal used in coats of arms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK English in traditional/herbal medicine contexts.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, with slightly higher recognition in UK due to historical pharmaceutical terminology.
Grammar
How to Use “tincture” in a Sentence
tincture of [SUBSTANCE][ADJECTIVE] tincturea tincture of [ABSTRACT QUALITY]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “tincture” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The sunset tinctured the clouds with rose and gold.
- His speech was tinctured with irony.
American English
- Experience had tinctured her optimism with caution.
- The report was tinctured with bias.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; potentially in art supplies or pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Academic
Used in history of medicine, pharmacology, and literary analysis.
Everyday
Very rare; mostly in contexts of alternative/herbal medicine.
Technical
Standard term in pharmacology for an alcoholic extract of a plant or drug; also in heraldry.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “tincture”
- Confusing with 'tinture' (misspelling). Using as a common synonym for 'color'. Overusing the verb form.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency word used mostly in specific technical (pharmacology) or literary contexts.
Yes, but it is archaic and literary, meaning 'to color slightly' or 'to imbue with a trace of something'.
A tincture is specifically an alcoholic extract. A tonic is a general term for a medicine that invigorates or strengthens.
Yes, it is a common antiseptic, though other iodine preparations are also widely available.
A medicine made by dissolving a drug in alcohol.
Tincture is usually formal, technical, literary in register.
Tincture: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtɪŋ(k)tʃə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtɪŋ(k)tʃər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a tincture of doubt”
- “not a tincture of evidence”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'TINCT' (like tint/color) + 'CURE' (medicine). A tincture is a colored liquid medicine.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUID IS A CARRIER OF ESSENCE / COLOR IS A THIN LAYER OF QUALITY
Practice
Quiz
In heraldry, what does 'tincture' refer to?