salt

[[t]sɔlt[/t]]

n.

1) mir a crystalline compound, sodium chloride, NaCl, occurring chiefly as a mineral or a constituent of seawater, and used for seasoning food and as a preservative

2) chem. any of a class of chemical compounds formed by neutralization of an acid by a base, a reaction in which hydrogen atoms of the acid are replaced by cations supplied by the base

3) coo table salt mixed with an herb or seasoning as named:

onion salt[/ex]

4) an element that gives liveliness or pungency

5) sharp, biting wit

6) inf a sailor, esp. an old or experienced one

7) to season with salt

8) to cure or preserve with salt

9) to provide with salt:

to salt cattle[/ex]

10) chem. to treat with common salt or with any chemical salt

11) cvb to spread salt on so as to melt snow or ice

12) min to introduce rich ore fraudulently into (a mine, a mineral sample, etc.) to create a false impression of value

13) phv salt away

a) phv Also, salt down. to preserve by adding salt to, as meat

b) to save (money) for future use

14) chem. phv salt out, to separate (a dissolved substance) from a solution by the addition of a salt, esp. common salt

15) containing salt, or tasting of salt:

a salt drink[/ex]

16) cured or preserved with salt:

salt cod[/ex]

17) inundated by salt water

18) phl

salty 1)

•

- take with a grain or pinch of salt worth one's salt

Etymology: bef. 900; (n. and adj.) ME; OE sealt, c. OFris, OON Gosalt, OHG, G salz; akin to L sāl, Gk háls; (v.) ME salten, OE s(e) altan salt′like`, adj. syn: See sailor