English Reference
noun · verb · adjective

salt

n. · v. · adj.
US /ˈsɔɫt/ UK /sˈɒlt/ salt UK spelling salts

  1. 01 A1 Beginner Cooking

    n.a white substance from the sea or earth used to make food taste better.

    n.sodium chloride (NaCl) used as a food seasoning, preservative, or condiment. Uncountable in general use; countable when referring to specific varieties.

    Simple

    Please pass the salt so I can season my chips.

    In context

    The chef recommended using a coarse sea salt to finish the dish, as the larger crystals provide a more distinct texture than fine table salt.

    seasoningsodium chloride
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    n.a substance formed when an acid and a base react together.

    n.any of a class of compounds formed by the replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms of an acid with a metal or another positive ion.

    Simple

    In chemistry class, we learned how to produce a salt by mixing an acid with a base.

    In context

    The solubility of the resulting salt depends heavily on the temperature of the solvent and the specific ions involved in the reaction.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Informal Nautical

    n.an old or very experienced sailor.

    n.an experienced sailor, often used in the phrase 'old salt'.

    Simple

    The old salt told us stories about his many years at sea.

    In context

    The harbor was full of old salts who had spent their entire lives navigating the treacherous currents of the northern coastline.

    landlubber
  4. 04 C1 Advanced Slang Computing

    n.a feeling of being annoyed or upset, especially after losing a game.

    n.a state of being resentful, bitter, or angry, typically in the context of online gaming or social media arguments.

    Simple

    There was a lot of salt in the chat after the team lost the match.

    In context

    The forum was filled with salt after the developers announced the controversial changes to the game's mechanics.

  5. 05 A2 Elementary Cooking

    v.to put salt on food to give it more flavor.

    v.to season or preserve food by adding salt. Transitive; requires a direct object.

    Simple

    You should salt the water before you add the pasta.

    In context

    The recipe instructs you to salt the meat generously and let it sit for an hour before roasting to ensure the flavor penetrates deeply.

  6. 06 B1 Intermediate

    adj.tasting of salt or containing salt.

    adj.containing, consisting of, or preserved with salt.

    Simple

    The salt air at the beach always makes me feel refreshed.

    In context

    The expedition struggled to find fresh water, as most of the local springs were too salt for human consumption.

Usage salt water

This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Common
Updated