tinge

[ tinj ]

verb (used with object)

, tinged, tinge·ing or ting·ing.

1. to impart a trace or slight degree of some color to; tint.
2. to impart a slight taste or smell to.

noun

1. a slight degree of coloration.
2. a slight admixture, as of some qualifying property or characteristic; trace; smattering:

   a tinge of garlic; a tinge of anger.

   Synonyms: suspicion, nuance, shade, hint

tinge

/ tɪndʒ /

noun

1. a slight tint or colouring

   her hair had a tinge of grey

2. any slight addition

verb

1. to colour or tint faintly
2. to impart a slight trace to

   her thoughts were tinged with nostalgia

Other Words From

• inter·tinge verb (used with object) intertinged intertingeing or intertinging
• re·tinge verb (used with object) retinged retingeing or retinging

Word History and Origins

Origin of tinge¹

First recorded in 1470–80, tinge is from the Latin word tingere to dye, color

Word History and Origins

Origin of tinge¹

C15: from Latin tingere to colour

Example Sentences

Through everyone’s excitement and support, I also picked up on a tinge of sadness.

From Outside Online

If anything the Yeti occasionally exhibited an overly sharp tinge on “esses,” as well as other hard consonant sounds, whereas the QuadCast S seems to have a flatter representation of sound across the low-to-high frequency range.

From Popular-Science

If you lived through the ’80s or early ’90s, or sat through many a movie set in the ’80s or early ’90s, you’ll feel a tinge of nostalgia for the image of grabbing a boombox by the handle on your way to a back-alley dance battle.

From Popular-Science

That scale gives his skepticism about the vaccine a particularly dangerous tinge so, in short order, multiple reporters including our Aaron Blake debunked Carlson's claims.

From Washington Post

Biologists debate what the stolen chloroplasts do for their kidnappers besides provide a pretty, green tinge.

From Science News

Julie E. Byrne, a religion professor at Hofstra University, also sees a political tinge to the faith-based audience.

From The Daily Beast

We want to follow her as we would our own friend, a tinge of jealousy and all.

From The Daily Beast

Watch as the masses of people look at the camera with both curiosity and a tinge of fear.

From The Daily Beast

Yet the time frame unquestionably infuses Moonrise Kingdom with more than a tinge of melancholy.

From The Daily Beast

He would probably suffer a tinge of regret that he never thought to market his look.

From The Daily Beast

The cytoplasm of lymphocytes is generally robin's-egg blue; that of the large mononuclears may have a faint bluish tinge.

From Project Gutenberg

Wright's stain gives such cells a faint bluish tinge when the condition is mild, and a rather deep blue when severe.

From Project Gutenberg

The cliffs of Red Point partake of a reddish tinge and appear to be disposed nearly in horizontal strata.

From Project Gutenberg

An expression of amazement crept into their faces, and along with Clip's astonishment came a tinge of bitterness.

From Project Gutenberg

Then there was a faint pulsation of the rigid limbs, the white, mean face took on a tinge as if the blood were flowing again.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• imbue
• suffuse