# tincture

/ˈtɪŋktʃɝ/ (US) · /tˈɪŋktʃɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/tincture
Updated: 2026-10-17

## Definition

a liquid medicine made by mixing a plant or drug with alcohol. You use only a few drops at a time.

For teachers: 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.