Tinto

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A type of red wine often produced in Spain, typically made from dark grape varieties
2. A term used to refer to red wine in the Spanish language, commonly enjoyed in social settings
3. This word describes a category of wine characterized by its deep red color, usually accompanying meals or gatherings

Etymology: Spanish "tinto" is the past participle of "teñir", "to dye" or "tint", from Latin "tingere", which carried the same sense of colouring or staining. The adjective was therefore simply "dyed" or "stained", and it still means "red" or "dark-coloured" in Spanish in general. Its link to wine is a narrowing of that general sense: "vino tinto" was the ordinary way to say red wine, set against "vino blanco", and English speakers met the word mainly through that phrase. In English, "tinto" entered in the 20th century, with its usage tied to Spanish food and travel writing, and it is most often heard in the phrase "tinto de verano", a chilled drink of red wine and lemon soda. The word's origin is more straightforward than its neighbour "tint", which, as a doublet borrowed from the same Latin verb, reached English earlier and took a different path. Colour came first, and the wine name followed from it.

Synonyms: red wine, vino tinto

Antonyms: white wine