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salt Definition

salt (sôlt)

noun

  1. sodium chloride, NaCl, a white, crystalline substance with a characteristic taste, found in natural beds, in sea water, etc., and used for seasoning and preserving foods, etc.
  2. a chemical compound derived from an acid by replacing hydrogen, wholly or partly, with a metal or an electropositive radical: the salt of an -ous acid is usually indicated by the suffix -ite, the salt of an -ic acid by the suffix -ate
  3. that which lends a tang or piquancy; esp., sharp pungent humor or wit
  4. saltcellar
  5. any of various mineral salts used as a cathartic, as Epsom salts, or to soften bath water, as a restorative, etc.
  6. Informal a sailor, esp. an experienced one

Etymology: ME < OE sealt, akin to Ger salz < IE base *sal-, salt > L sal, Gr hāls, salt, Sans salila, salty

adjective

  1. containing salt
  2. preserved with salt
  3. tasting or smelling of salt
  4. Now Rare pungent or biting
    1. flooded with salt water
    2. growing in salt water

transitive verb

  1. to sprinkle or season with salt
  2. to preserve with salt or in a salt solution
  3. to provide with salt
  4. to treat with salt in chemical processes
  5. to season or give a tang to to salt a speech with wit
  6. to give artificial value to; specif.,
    1. to alter (books, prices, etc.) in order to give false value
    2. ☆ to scatter minerals or ores in (a mine), put oil in (a well), etc. in order to deceive prospective buyers

salt Related Forms

salt′·like′ adjective salt′·ness noun

salt Idioms

above (or below) the salt

in a more honored (or less honored) position

: From the former practice of placing guests at the upper or lower part of a table with a bowl of salt in the middle

salt away

or salt down
  1. to pack and preserve with salt
  2. ☆ Informal to store or save (money, etc.)

salt of the earth

Etymology: see Matt. 5:13

any person or persons regarded as the finest, noblest, etc.

salt out

to precipitate or separate (a substance) from its solution by the addition of a soluble salt

with a grain of salt

or with a pinch of salt

Etymology: Latinized as cum grano salis

with some doubt, allowance for exaggeration, etc.; skeptically

worth one's salt

worth one's wages, sustenance, etc.

SALT Definition

☆ SALT (sôlt)

noun

Strategic Arms Limitation Talks

salt Synonyms

salt

modif.

  1. Tasting of salt

    alkaline, saline, briny; see salty.

  2. Preserved with salt

    salted, brined, cured, pickled, corned, marinated, dilled, salt-pickled, preserved, soused*.

salt Synonyms

salt

n.

  1. A common seasoning and preservative

    sodium chloride, common salt, table salt, savor, condiment, flavoring, spice, seasoning, sea salt, road salt.

    Common types of flavoring salts include: garlic, sea, celery, onion, herb, barbecue, salad, seasoning, smoked, hickory smoked; salt substitute.

  2. A chemical compound].

    Common chemical salts include: Epsom, Glauber's, Rochelle, mineral, smelling; saltpeter, sal ammoniac, salts of tartar, baking soda.

  3. Anything that provides savor

    relish, pungency, smartness; see humor 1, wit 1.

below the salt

disfavored, not in favor, not socially acceptable; see unpopular.

not worth one's salt

good-for-nothing, bad, worthless; see poor 2.

salt of the earth

a good person, solid citizen, one of nature's noblemen*; see gentleman 1, lady 2.

with a grain<strong> (or </strong>pinch) of salt

doubtingly, skeptically, cum grano salis (Latin); see suspiciously.

salt Synonyms

salt

v.

  1. To flavor with salt

    season, make tasty, make piquant; see flavor.

  2. To scatter thickly

    pepper, strew, spread; see scatter 1, 2.

salt Usage Examples

Object

peanut: Cheese Cheese slices and spreads Cottage and cream cheese Snacks Crisps, salted peanuts and cheese savory biscuits.

Converse of object

  • rub: Then they really rubbed salt in the wounds by snatching the golden goal winner... in the final minute of extra time.
  • dissolve: Mostly they occur in soft waters, water poor in calcium and magnesium and other dissolved salts.

Adjective modifier

  • soluble: It could be any soluble salt, not just sodium chloride.
  • molten: Consider for example, the electrolysis of the molten salt, NaCl.
  • insoluble: Brief scientific background Kidney stones are most commonly composed of insoluble salts of calcium.
  • added: It does not contain any added salt, sugar or preservatives.
  • inorganic: The effect of inorganic salts, including nitrates, was agreed to be worth further study.

Modifies a noun

  • marsh: Inside the railroad bridge is an area of salt marsh vegetation - a habitat not common locally.
  • intake: High salt intake in children leads to high blood pressure in adult life.
  • pan: From medieval times sea water was evaporated in huge salt pans at the mouth of the burn.
  • spray: Wind plant in good coastal European sites will be subject to rain and salt spray and so corrosion problems will be similar.
  • lake: Event frequency is salt lake city where the machines on the allegations.
  • cod: The Basques were going across to the Grand Banks well before 1492, as were the Portuguese for their salt cod.

Noun used with modifier

  • teaspoon: Cut potatoes in half and place into a large bowl and toss with the oil, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and pepper.
  • bile: Cholestyramine can help the small proportion of IBS sufferers who have diarrhea secondary to impaired handling of bile salts within the gut.
  • ammonium: The action of heat on the solid A little of the compound is heated in a dry ignition tube. v sublimes: ammonium salt.
  • pinch: Add the coconut cream, herbs and spices and a pinch salt together with a good dose of fresh ground black pepper.
  • sodium: A nerve cell contains a high concentration of potassium salt whilst the chemical composition outside the cell membrane is higher in sodium salt.
  • sea: Rub the skin of the pork with sea salt.