1
: a bitter crystalline alkaloid C20H24N2O2 from cinchona bark used in medicine
2
: a salt of quinine used especially as an antipyretic, antimalarial, and bitter tonic
Examples of quinine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert In 19th-century Philadelphia, Alma Whitaker, the daughter of a wealthy quinine merchant, studies the phenomena of the natural world as a talented botanist.
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Mia Barzilay Freund, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2024
The ingredients vary, but generally include quinine, wormwood, citrus peel, vanilla, gentian root, thyme, ginger, and baking spices.
—Jason Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 3 Dec. 2023
This tour of the world's toxins includes obvious candidates such as cocaine and nicotine but also substances less likely to be viewed as poisons: quinine, caffeine and cinnamon.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2023
At one time, quinine was sold over the counter for cramps.
—Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2023
Subsequently, the agency has prohibited doctors from prescribing quinine for anything other than malaria.
—Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2023
If taken during pregnancy, quinine sometimes causes birth defects.
—Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2023
People tried to ameliorate M.S. with leeches, quinine, foxglove, tobacco, hemlock, valerian, coffee, tea, being suspended above the ground, vertically, for four minutes at a time, and being wrapped in sheets sprayed with cold water.
—Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 17 July 2023
James Pimm, a farmer's son who owned an oyster bar in 19th-century London, created and offered his guests this secret mix of gin, quinine, and a spice blend as a tonic to aid digestion.
—Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, 29 June 2023
Mia Barzilay Freund, Vogue, 29 Mar. 2024
The ingredients vary, but generally include quinine, wormwood, citrus peel, vanilla, gentian root, thyme, ginger, and baking spices.
—Jason Wilson, Travel + Leisure, 3 Dec. 2023
This tour of the world's toxins includes obvious candidates such as cocaine and nicotine but also substances less likely to be viewed as poisons: quinine, caffeine and cinnamon.
—Amy Brady, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2023
At one time, quinine was sold over the counter for cramps.
—Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2023
Subsequently, the agency has prohibited doctors from prescribing quinine for anything other than malaria.
—Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2023
If taken during pregnancy, quinine sometimes causes birth defects.
—Joe Graedon and Teresa Graedon, oregonlive, 4 Sep. 2023
People tried to ameliorate M.S. with leeches, quinine, foxglove, tobacco, hemlock, valerian, coffee, tea, being suspended above the ground, vertically, for four minutes at a time, and being wrapped in sheets sprayed with cold water.
—Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 17 July 2023
James Pimm, a farmer's son who owned an oyster bar in 19th-century London, created and offered his guests this secret mix of gin, quinine, and a spice blend as a tonic to aid digestion.
—Sam Dangremond, Town & Country, 29 June 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'quinine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near quinine
Cite this Entry
“Quinine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quinine. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
quinine
noun
qui·nine
ˈkwī-ˌnīn 
also ˈkwin-ˌīn
: a bitter white drug obtained from cinchona bark and used especially to treat malaria
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