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

• 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

The mocha was cloying, the caramel not salty enough, and both had an all-too-present tinge of monk fruit. —Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Oct. 2025

The reddish tinge elevates almost any other tones it's paired with, from browns and beiges to a high contrast blue. —Nuria Luis, Glamour, 18 Oct. 2025

Verb

This narrative has always been reductive and, frankly, tinged with cultural condescension. —Bobby Ghosh, Time, 29 Oct. 2025

Think inky cola-esque bottles; floral, blush rosé vermuts; or even cinnamon-and-licorice-tinged vermut negro. —Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 21 Oct. 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