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 of tinge

Noun

• shade
• tone
• color
• hue
• tint

Verb

• tint
• paint
• color
• stain
• dye
• pigment

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

Check the Peel Color A ripe grapefruit should have a yellow peel that may have a tinge of red or pink. —Hannah Harper, Health, 20 Dec. 2025

Some of the most popular varieties of this type of hydrangea include 'Limelight' (flowers have a greenish tinge) and 'Vanilla Strawberry' (beloved for its pink and white two-tone flowers). —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Dec. 2025

Verb

But where the stalker remains self-deluded to the end, Jack’s self-righteousness is tinged with self-awareness. —Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025

Yet their encounter with Clifton that day ended up being tinged with sadness. —Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025

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

Rhymes for tinge

• binge
• cringe
• fringe
• hinge
• singe
• twinge
• impinge
• infringe
• syringe

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