noun
ointment
OYNTMNT
noun
1
A thick, oily paste, often medicated, applied to the skin to treat or soothe it.
"The doctor prescribed an ointment for the rash."
"She rubbed ointment on the burn to help it heal."
How to Use Ointment
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA greasy, often medicated cream rubbed onto the skin to treat a cut, burn, rash, or similar problem.
Common pairings
apply ointment
antiseptic ointment
a soothing ointment
Word Forms
ointments plural
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The doctor prescribed an _____ for the rash.
Etymology
From Old French oignement, "an anointing", from a Latin verb meaning "to smear or anoint" — the same root as the word "anoint".