tinge

1 of 2

noun

ˈtinj 

1

: a slight staining or suffusing shade or color

2

: an affective or modifying property or influence : touch

a tinge of guilt

tinge

2 of 2

verb

tinged; tingeing or tinging ˈtin-jiŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to color with a slight shade or stain : tint

b

: to affect or modify with a slight odor or taste

2

: to affect or modify in character

Synonyms

Noun

• cast
• color
• hue
• shade
• tincture
• tint
• tone

Verb

• bepaint [archaic]
• color
• dye
• paint
• pigment
• stain
• tincture
• tint

Examples of tinge in a Sentence

Noun

showing a tinge of color

dark hair with reddish tinges

Verb

The ink tinged his fingers blue.

just slightly tinge the frosting with yellow food coloring to give it a lemony look

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There are lots of easy-care houseplants that have an autumnal look, thanks to shades of yellow, orange, and even tinges of rich reds and purples on their foliage. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Sep. 2024

Something’s sweet on my tongue, and tart on the sides of my mouth, and there’s a tinge of smoke, too, which surprises me. —Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 2 Dec. 2024

Verb

And like many Simpsons episodes, this one has great fun observing the populace falling for a grandiose hard-sell, this one tinged with subliminal mind-control techniques. —Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024

But the Ailey company’s encampment at City Center this year (through Jan. 5) is tinged with sadness, because Judith Jamison died in November. —The New Yorker, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin tingere to dip, moisten, tinge; akin to Greek tengein to moisten and probably to Old High German dunkōn to dip

First Known Use

Noun

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

tinge

1 of 2 verb

ˈtinj 

tinged; tingeing or tinging ˈtin-jiŋ 

: to color or flavor slightly

tinge

2 of 2 noun

: a slight coloring, flavor, or quality

a reddish tinge

a tinge of mystery