lozenge

American  

[loz-inj] / ˈlɒz ɪndʒ /

noun

• lozenges
  plural

1. a small, flavored tablet made from sugar or syrup, often medicated, originally diamond-shaped.

2. Geometry Now Rare. diamond.

3. Heraldry.

   1. a diamond-shaped charge.

   2. a diamond-shaped shield bearing the arms of a woman.

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lozenge British  

/ ˈlɒzɪndʒ /

noun

1. Also called: pastille, troche. med a medicated tablet held in the mouth until it has dissolved

2. geometry another name for rhombus

3. heraldry a diamond-shaped charge

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• lozenges
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lozenge

1300–50; Middle English losenge < Middle French, Old French, perhaps < Gaulish *lausa flat stone + -enge < Germanic -inga -ing ³

Explanation

A lozenge is a kind of medicated candy that soothes your sore throat. If you've got a dry cough, you should drink some water and try sucking on a lozenge. You might call a lozenge a "cough drop" or "pastille." Some have ingredients that ease the scratchy throat that causes coughing, and others are meant to relieve the discomfort of a sore throat. The word lozenge can also refer to a diamond shape. The tile on your bathroom floor might be a pattern of blue and white lozenges. Throat lozenges were originally diamond-shaped, hence the name.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lozenge lozenges

The machine itself rolled lozenge dough and pressed them into perfect discs, thus eliminating the use of mortar and pestle to manually knead, roll and cut out the dough.

From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2024

It is an enormous yellow lozenge moored to the seafloor with two giant turbines attached on what look like great wings.

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2023

The candy heart was born during the lozenge craze of the mid-1800s, when apothecaries sold medicated candies to soothe sore throats and suppress coughs.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 7, 2023

Portman noted that the way she exaggeratedly works a lozenge in her mouth during a contentious press interview was inspired by Madonna in her tour documentary “Madonna: Truth or Dare.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 7, 2018

Hooper was lying flat on the ground in a lozenge of sunlight.

From "I'm the King of the Castle" by Susan Hill

Instead, Prof Smith says the best approach is for people to "wait it out", drink water to stay hydrated and take lozenges that encourage swallowing and "inhibit a cough" for a period of time.

From BBC ● Dec. 3, 2025

Authorities are deeply concerned, however, that the jewels risk being broken down for their valuable gems, which range from hundreds of diamonds to emeralds and sapphires the size of lozenges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2025

Originally set on making medicinal lozenges to help alleviate sore throat and bad breath, Oliver began creating candy — and founded a profitable business along the way.

From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2024

He relies on a prescription for lozenges he can take at home, costing as little as a few hundred dollars a month.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 22, 2023

I’ve got lozenges too, I think to myself, and I don’t even have to deal with an overbearing mom.

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle