ENGLISH
REFERENCE

ointment

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈɔɪntmənt// UK //ˈɔɪntmənt// oint·ment

n. a thick liquid or cream that you put on your skin to treat a cut, burn, or infection. It usually contains medicine to help you heal.

n. a thick, semi-solid preparation applied externally to the skin for medicinal or cosmetic purposes. Often contains a base such as petroleum jelly or beeswax to carry the active ingredients.


SIMPLE

Apply the ointment to the burn twice a day.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor prescribed a special ointment to help the athlete's sprained ankle heal faster.

COMPLEX

Ancient medical texts describe various herbal ointments used to soothe inflammation and promote circulation in patients suffering from chronic joint pain.

Synonyms
Origin

A later form (as if oint + -ment) of Middle English oinement, borrowed from Old French oignement (“an anointing”), from oigner, oindre, ongier (“to anoint”), from Latin ung(u)ō (“I anoint”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃engʷ- (“to smear, anoint”). Partly displaced native Old English sealf, whence modern salve.

Idioms1 entry

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