ointment

American  

[oint-muhnt] / ˈɔɪnt mənt /

noun

Pharmacology.

1. a soft, unctuous preparation, often medicated, for application to the skin; unguent.

   Synonyms:

   nard, balm, salve

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ointment British  

/ ˈɔɪntmənt /

noun

1. a fatty or oily medicated formulation applied to the skin to heal or protect

2. a similar substance used as a cosmetic

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ointment Idioms  

1. see fly in the ointment.

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Etymology

Origin of ointment

1250–1300; obsolete oint (aphetic variant of anoint ) + -ment; replacing Middle English oignement < Old French < Vulgar Latin *unguimentum for Latin unguentum; unguent

Example Sentences

Little wonder, then, that many patients preferred the services of women healers, or would take a risk on “quacks”—traveling salesmen selling ointments from town to town—rather than risk a visit to a hospital.

From The Wall Street Journal

"Do you want some ointment for ..." Dr. Thatcher's voice trailed off.

From Literature

She’d brought the box of bandages and antibiotic ointments from the bathroom, and she pulled Akira into a chair to see to the burn on her arm.

From Literature

New research from Nagoya University in Japan has identified a previously overlooked risk associated with widely used eye ointments.

From Science Daily

There are two potential flies in the ointment.

From Barron's

Related Words

• balm
• lotion
• salve