In science, a trace amount was a very little, sometimes immeasurable amount of a substance, such as a trace element.
In the culinary science, and the like, various terms, from largest to smallest amounts of "a little": touch, hint, trace, drop, pinch, dash or tad were used to denote minute amounts of an ingredient used in the preparation of foods, beverages, or aromatics.
Some terms were also occasionally used, almost idiomatically, as nonspecific medical terminology.
Comparative uses[]
- Touch
During his trial for the assassination of Klingon Chancellor Gorkon in 2293, Doctor Leonard McCoy was asked by General Chang about his health, and was told, "Aside from a touch of arthritis, I'd say pretty good." His response garnered a few laughs from the trial's gallery. (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)
During negotiations between the Acamarians and the Gatherers in 2366, Captain Jean-Luc Picard suggested a pause during a particularly tense moment, which was agreed to by the Gatherer representative Chorgan, who then requested "Maybe a little touch of that brandy?" (TNG: "The Vengeance Factor")
During the Rozhenko family's visit aboard the USS Enterprise-D in 2367, Worf's mother, Helena Rozhenko obeserved, "Is that a touch of grey in your beard? Don't worry, the Rozhenko men have always had beards of iron grey." (TNG: "Family")
In 2371, Julian Bashir ordered hot plomeek soup, from the replimat aboard Deep Space 9, "with a touch of basil." (DS9: "The House of Quark")
Later that year, Kes requested a beverage introduced to her by Tom Paris, "spinach juice with a touch of pear", during her visit to Captain Kathryn Janeway's ready room, which Janeway then proceeded to order from the replicator. (VOY: "Eye of the Needle")
Previously, when Neelix and Tuvok compared notes about breeding orchids, Neelix noted, "Don't they make the most exquisite salad? A touch of Baldoxic vinegar, pure heaven." (VOY: "Tattoo")
When Neelix prepared Porakan eggs for Tuvok's breakfast, in early 2373, he described the preparation process as, "scrambled with a little dill weed, [and] a touch of rengazo." (VOY: "Flashback")
After the USS Defiant picked up Barry Waddle in 2373, he claimed Klingons stank, without thinking about the fact that Worf was present. Once Waddle was gone, O'Brien told Worf he liked the way the Klingon smelled, describing it as "sort of an earthy, peaty aroma," to which Bashir added, "with a touch of lilac." (DS9: "Trials and Tribble-ations")
In the anti-time future,Geordi La Forge inquired about Data's grey hair, to which Data replied, "I found that a touch of grey adds an air of distinction." Data's housekeeper, Jessel, added her opinion on the subject, stating, "If you're really his friend, you'll get him to take that grey out of his hair. Looks like a bloody skunk." (TNG: "All Good Things...")
- Hint
In 2373, Neelix poured Tuvok a glass of his experimental blend of "Anthraxic citrus peel, orange juice with just a hint of papalla seed extract." (VOY: "Flashback")
Quark once offered Grilka, his Klingon ex-wife, "Maparian ale with just a hint of pazafer." She was honor that he remembered. (DS9: "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places")
- Pinch
Following the cease fire between Species 8472 led by Boothby and Kathryn Janeway of the USS Voyager in 2375, Boothby informed her that, "I can't promise you the moon, captain. My superiors aren't as forward thinking. Peace with Humans? Wow. They're going to hit the roof. But I'll tell them what happened here today, and with a pinch of luck a few of them might see the light." (VOY: "In the Flesh")
The same year, following the Niners baseball loss to the Logicians aboard Deep Space 9, Captain Solok accused Sisko of "attempting to manufacture a triumph where none exists." The team stood behind Captain Benjamin Sisko's acknowledgement of "manufactured triumph", and Solok scoffed "this [..] typical Human reaction, based on emotionalism and illogic." Sisko and the other Niners then began taunting Solok, noting how he heard, in "irritation" in Solok's voice, with the others noting in Solok's response of "certainly not," how "that sounded positively defensive to me. [...] With a hint of anger. [...] And just a touch of jealousy. [...] And a lot of bitterness." (DS9: "Take Me Out to the Holosuite")
- Dash
Beverly Crusher ordered warm milk with a dash of nutmeg for Jean-Luc Picard to help him sleep. (TNG: "All Good Things...")
A dash of ice salt was part of a recipe shared by Gideon Seyetik in 2370. (DS9: "Second Sight")
A Klingon martini contained vermouth, gin, and a dash of bloodwine. (VOY: "In the Flesh")