noun
quinine
kwih-NEEN
Quinine (noun) means a bitter compound extracted from cinchona bark, used to treat malaria and to flavour tonic water. Example: “Tonic water gets its bitter taste from a small amount of quinine.”
noun
1
A bitter compound extracted from cinchona bark, used to treat malaria and to flavour tonic water.
"Quinine, taken in the evening, is considered by the Persians as an aphrodisiac aid."
— Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs (1961)
"Tonic water gets its bitter taste from a small amount of quinine."
"Early European settlers relied on quinine to survive malaria outbreaks."
How to use quinine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bitter medicinal compound from tree bark, historically the main treatment for malaria.
Common pairings
quinine tonic
a dose of quinine
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Word forms
- Plural
- quinines
- Third person singular
- quinines
- Past tense
- quinined
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Tonic water gets its bitter taste from a small amount of _____.
Etymology
Traced back through Spanish quina and French quinquina to Quechua kina, the native word for cinchona bark.
Rhymes for quinine
See all rhymes for quinine →Frequently asked questions
What does “quinine” mean?
The word “quinine” means a bitter compound extracted from cinchona bark, used to treat malaria and to flavour tonic water. In plain terms, a bitter medicinal compound from tree bark, historically the main treatment for malaria.
How do you pronounce “quinine”?
“Quinine” is pronounced kwih-NEEN (/ˈkwaɪ.naɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “quinine” in a sentence?
Here is “quinine” used in a sentence: “Tonic water gets its bitter taste from a small amount of quinine.”
What part of speech is “quinine”?
“Quinine” is a noun.
Where does the word “quinine” come from?
The word “quinine” comes from French. Traced back through Spanish quina and French quinquina to Quechua kina, the native word for cinchona bark.
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