# saline

/səˈɫin/ (US) · /sˈeɪlaɪn/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/saline
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

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