: 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 alsocommon salt
b
: a substance (such as Glauber's salt) resembling common salt
csalts plural
(1)
: a mineral or saline mixture (such as Epsom salts) used as an aperient or cathartic
: 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
Noun The soup needs a little more salt. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Verb The meat was preserved by being salted and smoked. The city salted the roads after the snowstorm.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English sealt; akin to Old High German salz salt, Lithuanian saldus sweet, Latin sal salt, Greek hals salt, sea
Adjective (2)
by shortening & alteration from assaut, from Middle English, from Anglo-French en saut in rut
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a