Tinge means a small amount of a color or quality mixed into something else. When your white shirt gets a tinge of pink after accidentally washing it with a red sock, you see just a hint of color bleeding through. When autumn arrives, the green leaves get a tinge of yellow or orange before fully changing color.

The word also describes slight traces of feelings or qualities. Your excitement about summer vacation might have a tinge of sadness mixed in if your best friend is moving away. A compliment could carry a tinge of jealousy if the speaker secretly wishes they had accomplished the same thing.

Tinge suggests something subtle, barely there but still noticeable. It's not a dramatic change but a delicate shift. A funny story might have a tinge of truth to it, meaning parts are real even though it's mostly exaggerated. The sky at sunset might show a tinge of purple among the oranges and reds. When you notice a tinge of something, you're catching those small but meaningful details that others might miss.

As a verb, to tinge means to add a slight color or quality to something.