ointment
/'ɔintmənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A thick, soft, often greasy substance applied to the skin for medicinal or cosmetic purposes: "ointment" refers to a semisolid preparation, typically containing medicinal or soothing ingredients, that is spread on the skin to treat irritation, heal wounds, or moisturize.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The doctor prescribed an antibiotic ointment for the infection.
- She applied a soothing ointment to her dry, cracked hands.
- This herbal ointment is good for minor burns and cuts.
Advanced Usage
- "To be a fly in the ointment": to be a minor irritation or flaw that spoils something.
- The rainy weather was a fly in the ointment of our otherwise perfect picnic.
Variants and Related Words
- Salve (n): a healing or soothing ointment.
- The salve helped relieve the itching.
- Balm (n): a fragrant, soothing ointment, often for pain relief.
- The lip balm protects against chapping.
- Cream (n): a softer, less greasy semisolid preparation for the skin.
- She uses a moisturizing cream every night.
- Liniment (n): a liquid or lotion, especially one made with oil, for rubbing on the body to relieve pain.
- The athlete rubbed liniment on his sore muscles.
Synonyms
- Unguent: a less common synonym for a soothing or healing salve.
- Emollient: a substance that softens or soothes the skin.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
(Not typically applicable for the noun "ointment")
Related Idioms
- "A fly in the ointment": a drawback or spoiling element in something otherwise pleasant.
- The only fly in the ointment was the delayed flight; the vacation was wonderful.
Noun
- toiletry consisting of any of various substances in the form of a thick liquid that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin
- semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation