Word
saline
US/səˈɫin/
UK/sˈeɪlaɪn/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a mixture of salt and water. Doctors often use it to clean wounds or to put fluids back into a person's body through a tube.
n. a solution of sodium chloride in sterile water, typically at a concentration of 0.9 percent to match human blood. Often used for intravenous infusion, wound irrigation, or as a medium for other medications.
Examples
“The nurse cleaned the cut with a sterile saline solution.”
“After the surgery, the patient was given saline through an IV to prevent dehydration.”
“In clinical settings, isotonic saline is the standard fluid for rehydration because its salt concentration mirrors that of human cells, preventing osmotic shock during rapid administration.”
Examples
simple
“The nurse cleaned the cut with a sterile saline solution.”
contextual
“After the surgery, the patient was given saline through an IV to prevent dehydration.”
complex
“In clinical settings, isotonic saline is the standard fluid for rehydration because its salt concentration mirrors that of human cells, preventing osmotic shock during rapid administration.”
Real-World Examples
“Where these waters meet and stagnate, they form something remarkable: an amoeba-shaped salt pond, its waters so saline that only the hardiest microbes survive.” “The saline solution would widen the womb and the fibroid would be shaved away.” Etymology
PIE word *séh₂ls From Middle English salyne, from Medieval Latin salīna and Middle French salin, from Latin sal (“salt”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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