OINTMENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ointment mean? 

• OINTMENT (noun)
  The noun OINTMENT has 2 senses:

1. semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation

2. 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

  Familiarity information: OINTMENT used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OINTMENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

balm; ointment; salve; unction; unguent

Hypernyms ("ointment" is a kind of...):

curative; cure; remedy; therapeutic (a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain)

Meronyms (substance of "ointment"):

lanolin; wool fat; wool grease (a yellow viscous animal oil extracted from wool; a mixture of fatty acids and esters; used in some ointments and cosmetics)

Domain category:

medical specialty; medicine (the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ointment"):

arnica (an ointment used in treating bruises)

baby oil (an ointment for babies)

balsam (an ointment containing a fragrant resin)

carron oil (an ointment formerly used to treat burns)

cerate (a hard medicated paste made of lard or oil mixed with wax or resin)

chrism; chrisom; holy oil; sacramental oil (a consecrated ointment consisting of a mixture of oil and balsam)

lip balm (a balm applied to the lips)

mentholated salve (a salve containing menthol)

mercurial ointment (an ointment containing mercury)

zinc ointment (an ointment containing zinc that is used to treat certain skin diseases)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

cream; emollient; ointment

Hypernyms ("ointment" is a kind of...):

toilet articles; toiletry (artifacts used in making your toilet (washing and taking care of your body))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ointment"):

cold cream; coldcream; face cream; vanishing cream (a cream used cosmetically (mostly by women) for softening and cleaning the skin)

hand cream (moisturizing cream for the hands)

lanolin (an emollient containing wool fat (a fatty substance obtained from the wool of sheep))

nard; spikenard (an aromatic ointment used in antiquity)

sun blocker; sunblock; sunscreen (a cream spread on the skin; contains a chemical (as PABA) to filter out ultraviolet light and so protect from sunburn)

 Context examples 

An ointment intended for administration to the mucosa of the nose.

(Nasal Ointment Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

An ointment formulation of the hydrochloride salt of an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor with hair-growth inhibitory and potential chemopreventive activities.

(Eflornithine Hydrochloride Ointment, NCI Thesaurus)

A topical ointment containing a recombinant form of human epidermal growth factor (EGF) with potential protective activity against EGF receptor (EGFR/HER1) inhibitor-induced cutaneous toxicities.

(Epidermal Growth Factor Ointment, NCI Thesaurus)

Causes include: • Bacterial or viral infection • Allergies • Substances that cause irritation • Contact lens products, eye drops, or eye ointments

(Pinkeye, NIH: National Eye Institute)

A ointment intended for administration in or around the eye.

(Ophthalmic Ointment Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

The ointment being studied is not available in the United States.

(Calendula ointment, NCI Dictionary)

An ointment intended for administration through the mouth.

(Oral Ointment Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

It is also used as a base for some ointments.

(Petrolatum, NCI Dictionary)

In medicine, forms of PEG can be used in ointments, in drugs or substances to make them stay in the body longer, or in laxatives.

(PEG, NCI Dictionary)

Mercury salts may be used in skin creams and ointments.

(Mercury, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)