What does "cinchona" mean?
A tree or shrub of the genus Cinchona, native to the Andes in South America but since widely cultivated in Indonesia and India as well for its medicinal bark.
Cinchona
/sɪŋˈkoʊnə/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A tree or shrub of the genus Cinchona, native to the Andes in South America but since widely cultivated in Indonesia and India as well for its medicinal bark.
- Grammar: cinchona is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: chinchona, cinchona bark, jesuit's bark, peruvian bark.
- Usage evidence: He seems to have collected plants of every kind - sugar-cane, coffee, cinchona, cocoa, indigo, and many others - and thus demonstrates beyond a doubt that Arnheim's Land will not prove herself behind the rest of the tropical world both in planting and agriculture, when the labour question is settled, and a properly-arranged coolie system enables planters to give the country a proper trial.
How to use "cinchona"
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- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "cinchona" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "cinchona" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "cinchona" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "cinchona" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "chinchona" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A tree or shrub of the genus Cinchona, native to the Andes in South America but since widely cultivated in Indonesia and India as well for its medicinal bark. countable, uncountable
"He seems to have collected plants of every kind - sugar-cane, coffee, cinchona, cocoa, indigo, and many others - and thus demonstrates beyond a doubt that Arnheim's Land will not prove herself behind the rest of the tropical world both in planting and agriculture, when the labour question is settled, and a properly-arranged coolie system enables planters to give the country a proper trial."
- 2 any of several trees of the genus Cinchona wordnet
- 3 The bark of these plants, which yield quinine and other alkaloids useful in reducing fevers and particularly in combatting malaria. countable, uncountable
- 4 medicinal bark of cinchona trees; source of quinine and quinidine wordnet
- 5 Any medicine chiefly composed of the prepared bark of these plants. countable, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"He seems to have collected plants of every kind - sugar-cane, coffee, cinchona, cocoa, indigo, and many others - and thus demonstrates beyond a doubt that Arnheim's Land will not prove herself behind the rest of the tropical world both in planting and agriculture, when the labour question is settled, and a properly-arranged coolie system enables planters to give the country a proper trial."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "cinchona"?
Common synonyms include: chinchona, cinchona bark, jesuit's bark, peruvian bark, shrub.
How do you use "cinchona" in a sentence?
He seems to have collected plants of every kind - sugar-cane, coffee, cinchona, cocoa, indigo, and many others - and thus demonstrates beyond a doubt that Arnheim's Land will not prove herself behind the rest of the tropical world both in planting and agriculture, when the labour question is settled, and a properly-arranged coolie system enables planters to give the country a proper trial.
How do you pronounce "cinchona"?
Pronounced /sɪŋˈkoʊnə/.
Etymology
From New Latin cinchona, from Spanish Chinchón. Named by Carl Linnaeus after Ana de Osorio, 4th Countess of Chinchón (1599–1625), the wife of the Spanish Viceroy of Peru, who was allegedly cured of a fever by the bark.