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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.
"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 notes

In plain EnglishA bitter medicinal compound from tree bark, historically the main treatment for malaria.

Common pairings
quinine tonic a dose of quinine

Word forms

quinined past tense, quinines plural, quinines singular

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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.

Origin: French

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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