| / English Dictionary |
UNCTION
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Anointing as part of a religious ceremony or healing ritual
Synonyms:
inunction; unction
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Hypernyms ("unction" is a kind of...):
anointing; anointment (the act of applying oil or an oily liquid)
religious ceremony; religious ritual (a ceremony having religious meaning)
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 ("unction" is a kind of...):
curative; cure; remedy; therapeutic (a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain)
Meronyms (substance of "unction"):
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 "unction"):
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 3
Meaning:
Smug self-serving earnestness
Synonyms:
fulsomeness; oiliness; oleaginousness; smarminess; unction; unctuousness
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("unction" is a kind of...):
hypocrisy (insincerity by virtue of pretending to have qualities or beliefs that you do not really have)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Excessive but superficial compliments given with affected charm
Synonyms:
fulsomeness; smarm; unction
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("unction" is a kind of...):
compliment (a remark (or act) expressing praise and admiration)
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