ointment
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a thick, oily substance that you put on your skin to help a cut or a rash heal.
a medicinal, oily preparation applied topically to the skin as a treatment or emollient.
Simple“The doctor gave me a special ointment to put on my dry skin.”
In context“The pharmacist recommended a topical ointment containing zinc to soothe the inflammation and provide a protective barrier for the damaged tissue.”
UsageOften used with the verbs 'apply' or 'rub in'.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
a special oil or cream used in religious ceremonies.
a substance used for anointing, specifically within the context of religious rituals or consecration.
Simple“The priest used a holy ointment during the ceremony.”
In context“Historical records describe the composition of the sacred ointment used during the coronation to signify the divine appointment of the new monarch.”
Synonymschrismoil
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.