First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1salt
noun \ˈsȯlt\
: a natural white substance that is used especially to flavor or preserve food
: a chemical compound formed when part of an acid is replaced by a metal or something like a metal
Full Definition of SALT
1
a : a crystalline compound NaCl that consists of sodium chloride, is abundant in nature, and is used especially to season or preserve food or in industry —called also common salt b : a substance (as Glauber's salt) resembling common salt c plural (1) : a mineral or saline mixture (as Epsom salts) used as an aperient or cathartic (2) : smelling salts d : any of various compounds that result from replacement of part or all of the acid hydrogen of an acid by a metal or a group acting like a metal : an ionic crystalline compound
2
: a container for salt at table —often used in the phrases above the salt and below the salt alluding to the former custom of seating persons of higher rank above and those of lower rank below a saltcellar placed in the middle of a long table
3
a : an ingredient that gives savor, piquancy, or zest : flavor <a people…full of life, vigor, and the salt of personality — Clifton Fadiman> b : sharpness of wit : pungency c : common sense d : reserve, skepticism —usually used in the phrases with a grain of salt and with a pinch of salt e : a dependable steadfast person or group of people —usually used in the phrase salt of the earth
4
: sailor <a tale worthy of an old salt>
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Origin of SALT
Middle English, from Old English sealt; akin to Old High German salz salt, Lithuanian saldus sweet, Latin sal salt, Greek hals salt, sea
Related to SALT
Other Chemical Engineering Terms
2salt
transitive verb
: to flavor or preserve (food) with salt
: to put salt on (a surface) especially in order to melt ice
Full Definition of SALT
1
a : to treat, provide, or season with common salt b : to preserve (food) with salt or in brine c : to supply (as an animal) with salt
2
: to give flavor or piquancy to (as a story)
3
a : to enrich (as a mine) artificially by secretly placing valuable mineral in some of the working places b : to add something to secretly <salted the files with forged papers>; also : to insert or place secretly <salted the mines along the road>
First Known Use of SALT
before 12th century
Related to SALT
- Synonyms
- interlace, intersperse, interweave, lace, thread, weave, wreathe
3salt
adjective
Definition of SALT
1
2
: cured or seasoned with salt : salted <salt cod>
3
: overflowed with salt water <a salt pond>
First Known Use of SALT
before 12th century
4salt
adjective
Definition of SALT
obsoleteOrigin of SALT
by shortening & alteration from assaut, from Middle English, from Anglo-French en saut in rut
First Known Use: 1598
SALT
abbreviation
Definition of SALT
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
Other Government and Politics Terms
Salt
geographical name \ˈsȯlt\
Definition of SALT
1
river 200 miles (322 kilometers) Arizona flowing W into the Gila
2
river 100 miles (161 kilometers) N cen Kentucky flowing into Ohio River
3
river 200 miles (322 kilometers) NE Missouri flowing SE into Mississippi River
SALT Defined for Kids
1salt
noun \ˈsȯlt\
Definition of SALT for Kids
1
: a colorless or white substance that consists of sodium and chlorine and is used in seasoning and preserving food and in industry
2
: a compound formed by the combination of an acid and a base or a metal
2salt
verb
salt·edsalt·ing
Definition of SALT for Kids
: to flavor or preserve with salt
3salt
adjective
Definition of SALT for Kids
: containing salt : salty <salt water>
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