OINTMENT

Pronunciation (US): (GB):

I. (noun)

Sense 1

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

Synonyms:

cream; emollient; ointment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

balm; ointment; salve; unction; unguent

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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)

Credits

Context examples:

An ointment intended for administration either on the outer ear or into the auditory canal.

(Otic Ointment Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

The practice of placing antibiotic eye drops or ointment in a neonate's eyes after birth.

(Ophthalmic Prophylaxis, NCI Thesaurus)

A topical ointment containing a green tea polyphenol mixture (kunecatechins) with potential antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, and chemopreventive activities.

(Kunecatechins Ointment, NCI Thesaurus)

An ointment dosage form that enhances drug delivery.

(Augmented Ointment Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

An ointment that is modified to enhance the release of active and/or inert ingredient(s).

(Augmented Ointment Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

Some ointments, creams or rinses may help with the pain.

(Canker Sores, NIH)

Note 2: Emulsion is used as a dosage form term unless a more specific term is applicable, e.g. cream, lotion, ointment.

(Emulsion Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

These include ointments that numb the blisters, antibiotics that control secondary bacterial infections, and ointments that soften the crusts of the sores.

(Cold Sores, NIH)

A petrolatum-based ointment absorbed by dry and moist skin, petrolatum-mineral oil-lanolin-ceresin ointment is non-comedogenic, non-irritating, and non-sensitizing.

(Petrolatum-Mineral Oil-Lanolin-Ceresin Ointment, NCI Thesaurus)

A bismuth derivative of tetrabromopyrocatechol used as a topical ointment for the treatment of blepharitis.