Tincture: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when referring to a solution where a substance is dissolved in alcohol, often used in herbal medicine.

• She used a tincture of echinacea to boost her immune system.
• The herbalist recommended a tincture for his cold symptoms.

A general term used in scientific or everyday contexts to describe a liquid mixture where one substance is evenly dispersed within another.

• The scientist prepared a saline solution for the experiment.
• He cleaned the wound with an antiseptic solution.

Commonly used when referring to a concentrated substance obtained by removing the active ingredient from its source, often used in cooking and supplements.

• Vanilla extract is essential for most baking recipes.
• Ginseng extract is popular in many dietary supplements.

Use in a more magical or poetic context, often suggesting a magical or life-giving potion. Can also mean a medicinal solution but typically with more flourish.

• The ancient alchemist claimed to have discovered an elixir of eternal youth.
• She sipped the elixir, hoping it would cure all her ailments.

Typically used in a medical or herbal context to describe a solution where a plant or animal material has been dissolved in alcohol. Less commonly, it can be used in a more poetic or literary context to describe a small amount of something (often color or quality).

• The herbalist prepared a tincture from the roots of the plant.
• There was a tincture of sadness in her smile.

Used to describe any characteristic or property of an object that can be seen, reflecting specific wavelengths of light. Common in everyday conversation.

• The color of the sky is blue.
• She chose a bright color for her new dress.

Often used in more technical or artistic contexts to specify the shade or nuance of a color. It is frequently used among artists and interior designers.

• This painting features a variety of warm hues.
• I noticed a subtle hue of pink in the sunset.

Used to refer to a variation or degree of a color, often implying darkness or lightness. Common in everyday conversation and also used in artistic contexts.

• She preferred a lighter shade of blue for the walls.
• There are many shades of green in this forest.