1. A colorless or white crystalline solid, chiefly sodium chloride, used extensively in ground or granulated form as a food seasoning and preservative. Also called common salt, table salt. 2. A chemical compound formed by replacing all or part of the hydrogen ions of an acid with metal ions or electropositive radicals. 3.salts Any of various mineral salts used as laxatives or cathartics. 4.salts Smelling salts. 5. Epsom salts. Often used in the plural. 6. An element that gives flavor or zest. 7. Sharp lively wit. 8.Informal A sailor, especially when old or experienced. 9. A saltcellar.
ADJECTIVE:
1. Containing or filled with salt: a salt spray; salt tears.2. Having a salty taste or smell: breathed the salt air.3. Preserved in salt or a salt solution: salt mackerel.4a. Flooded with seawater. b. Found in or near such a flooded area: salt grasses.
TRANSITIVE VERB:
Inflected forms: salt·ed, salt·ing, salts 1. To add, treat, season, or sprinkle with salt. 2. To cure or preserve by treating with salt or a salt solution. 3. To provide salt for (deer or cattle). 4. To add zest or liveliness to: salt a lecture with anecdotes.5. To give an appearance of value to by fraudulent means, especially to place valuable minerals in (a mine) for the purpose of deceiving.
PHRASAL VERBS:
salt away To put aside; save. salt out To separate (a dissolved substance) by adding salt to the solution.
IDIOMS:
salt of the earth A person or group considered as the best or noblest part of society. worth (one's) salt Efficient and capable.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Old English sealt. See sal- in Appendix I.
sôlt
