English Reference
noun · verb

tint

n. · v.
US /ˈtɪnt/ UK /tˈɪnt/ tint UK spelling tints

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a small amount of a color that is added to something else.

    n.a slight or pale coloration; a tinge of a color.

    Simple

    The white paint had a slight blue tint to it.

    In context

    The artist added a subtle pink tint to the clouds to capture the atmosphere of the early morning sunrise.

  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a chemical used to change the color of your hair slightly.

    n.a dye used to color the hair, typically one that adds a subtle shade rather than a complete change.

    Simple

    She went to the salon to get a reddish tint for the summer.

    In context

    The stylist recommended a semi-permanent tint to enhance the natural highlights without causing significant damage to the hair follicles.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Informal

    n.a dark covering on car windows that stops people from seeing inside.

    n.a darkened film or treatment applied to vehicle windows to reduce glare and provide privacy.

    Simple

    The celebrity's car had a heavy tint on all the windows.

    In context

    Local regulations often limit the darkness of the tint allowed on the front windshield for safety reasons.

  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to give a small amount of color to something.

    v.to apply a small amount of color to something; to tinge.

    Simple

    The sunset tinted the sky with beautiful shades of orange.

    In context

    The manufacturer decided to tint the glass bottles green to protect the contents from light degradation.

  5. 05 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    n.a lighter version of a color made by adding white to it.

    n.a variety of a color produced by adding white to it, distinguished from a shade which is produced by adding black.

    Simple

    In art class, we learned how to create a tint by mixing white into red.

    In context

    The interior designer selected a series of tints from the same primary hue to create a cohesive yet airy feel throughout the apartment.


Etymology 1

Alteration of earlier tinct, influenced by French teinte (“tint”), from Latin tinctus (“dyed”), past participle of verb tingō (“tinge”). Doublet of tent (“kind of red wine”). Cognate with Dutch tint, Estonian tint, French teinte, German Tinte, Hungarian tinta, Italian tinta, Luxembourgish Tintin, Portuguese tinta, and Spanish tinta.

Etymology 2

Contraction.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin tinctus
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated