tint

American  

[tint] / tɪnt /

noun

1. a color or a variety of a color; hue.

2. a color diluted with white; a color of less than maximum purity, chromo, or saturation.

3. a delicate or pale color.

4. any of various commercial dyes for the hair.

5. Engraving. a uniform shading, as that produced by a series of fine parallel lines.

6. Also called tint block.  Printing. a faintly or lightly colored background upon which an illustration or the like is to be printed.

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verb (used with object)

1. to apply a tint or tints to; color slightly or delicately; tinge.

tint British  

/ tɪnt /

noun

1. a shade of a colour, esp a pale one

2. a colour that is softened or desaturated by the addition of white

3. a tinge

4. a semipermanent dye for the hair

5. a trace or hint

   a tint of jealousy in his voice

6. engraving uniform shading, produced esp by hatching

7. printing a panel of colour serving as a background to letters or other matter

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verb

1. (tr) to colour or tinge

2. (tr) to change or influence slightly

   his answer was tinted by his prior knowledge

3. (intr) to acquire a tint

Other Word Forms

• nontinted adjective
• overtint verb
• retint verb (used with object)
• tinter noun
• untinted adjective
• well-tinted adjective

Etymology

Origin of tint

First recorded in 1710–20; variant of tinct

Example Sentences

As plant debris and soil organic matter wash into the lake from surrounding forests, they tint the water a deep brown.

From Science Daily

Finish with fresh herbs and a quick yogurt sauce: lemon juice, chopped herbs and enough Old Bay to tint it faintly coral.

From Salon

He’s wearing a gold-rope chain with the Universal logo as a pendant, and gold-rimmed sunglasses that are square and lightly tinted.

From Los Angeles Times

It manifests now in a brittleness that tints their everyday exchanges as ossifying empty nesters.

From Los Angeles Times

It was getting dark outside, and the glass was tinted.

From Literature

Related Words

• coloration
• complexion
• glow
• hue
• tinge