Word
tincture
Phoneticstinc·ture, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɪŋktʃɝ/
UK/tˈɪŋktʃɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a liquid medicine made by mixing a plant or drug with alcohol. You use only a few drops at a time.
n. an alcoholic solution of a medicinal or herbal substance, dispensed in small doses. Extended to mean a slight trace or tinge of a quality.
Examples
“The nurse puts tincture of iodine on the cut.”
“The herbalist recommends a valerian tincture for sleep, with just a few drops in water before bed.”
“The old pharmacy still stocks bitter tinctures in amber bottles, and a faint tincture of nostalgia hangs in the air among the wooden shelves.”
Examples
simple
“The nurse puts tincture of iodine on the cut.”
contextual
“The herbalist recommends a valerian tincture for sleep, with just a few drops in water before bed.”
complex
“The old pharmacy still stocks bitter tinctures in amber bottles, and a faint tincture of nostalgia hangs in the air among the wooden shelves.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tincture” in context.
Verb
01. apply tincture
“Apply tincture directly to the bite with a clean cotton bud.”
verb + noun
02. dilute tincture
“Always dilute tincture with water before placing it under your tongue.”
verb + noun
03. prepare tincture
“Herbalists prepare tincture by soaking roots in alcohol for several weeks.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. alcoholic tincture
“Because it is an alcoholic tincture, only a few drops are needed per dose.”
adj + noun
05. herbal tincture
“She keeps a bottle of herbal tincture made from echinacea for colds.”
adj + noun
06. homeopathic tincture
“The practitioner prescribed a homeopathic tincture to support sleep.”
adj + noun
07. potent tincture
“This is a potent tincture, so dilute it carefully before use.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. bottle of tincture
“She bought a small bottle of tincture from the herbal pharmacy.”
noun + prep + noun
09. drop of tincture
“Add a single drop of tincture to a glass of water.”
noun + prep + noun
10. a few drops of tincture
“Add a few drops of tincture to warm water and drink slowly.”
11. apply tincture to the skin
“Apply tincture to the skin only after doing a patch test.”
12. dilute tincture with water
“Always dilute tincture with water before you take it.”
Real-World Examples
“Today, orris can be found throughout the world: as a flavour in tinctures, medicinal syrups and spice mixes; as a base note for aromatic spirits and cosmetics; as an iconic fragrance in perfumes and potpourris.” “They acknowledge that the composer also took the opium-based tincture laudanum to quell his various physical symptoms.” Etymology
The noun is derived from Late Middle English tincture (“a dye, pigment; a colour, hue, tint; process of colouring or dyeing; medicinal ointment or salve (perhaps one discolouring the skin); use of a medicinal tincture; (alchemy) transmutation of base metals into gold; ability to cause such transmutation; substance supposed to cause such transmutation”) [and other forms], borrowed from Latin tīnctūra (“act of dyeing”) + Middle English -ure (suffix indicating an action or a process and the means or result of that action or process). Tīnctūra is derived from tīnctus (“coloured, tinged; dipped in; impregnated with; treated”) + -tūra (suffix forming action nouns expressing activities or results); while tīnctus is the perfect passive participle of tingō (“to colour, dye, tinge; to dip (in), immerse; to impregnate (with); to moisten, wet; to smear”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *teng- (“to dip; to soak”). Doublet of tainture, teinture, and tinctura. The verb is derived from the noun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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