n., adj., & v.
n. 1 (also common salt) sodium chloride; the substance that gives sea water its characteristic taste, got in crystalline form by mining from strata consisting of it or by the evaporation of sea water, and used for seasoning or preserving food, or for other purposes. 2 a chemical compound formed from the reaction of an acid with a base, with all or part of the hydrogen of the acid replaced by a metal or metal-like radical. 3 sting; piquancy; pungency; wit (added salt to the conversation). 4 (in sing. or pl.) a a substance resembling salt in taste, form, etc. (bath salts; Epsom salts; smelling-salts). b (esp. in pl.) this type of substance used as a laxative. 5 a marsh, esp. one flooded by the tide, often used as a pasture or for collecting water for salt-making. 6 (also old salt) an experienced sailor. 7 (in pl.) an exceptional rush of sea water up river.
adj. 1 impregnated with, containing, or tasting of salt; cured or preserved or seasoned with salt. 2 (of a plant) growing in the sea or in salt marshes. 3 (of tears etc.) bitter. 4 (of wit) pungent.
v.tr. 1 cure or preserve with salt or brine. 2 season with salt. 3 make (a narrative etc.) piquant. 4 sprinkle (the ground etc.) with salt esp. in order to melt snow etc. 5 treat with a solution of salt or mixture of salts. 6 (as salted adj.) (of a horse or person) hardened or proof against diseases etc. caused by the climate or by special conditions. eat salt with be a guest of. in salt sprinkled with salt or immersed in brine as a preservative. not made of salt not disconcerted by wet weather. put salt on the tail of capture (with ref. to jocular directions given to children for catching a bird). salt an account sl. set an extremely high or low price for articles. salt-and-pepper (of materials etc. and esp. of hair) with light and dark colours mixed together. salt away (or down) sl. put money etc. by. salt the books sl. show receipts as larger than they really have been. salt-cat a mass of salt mixed with gravel, urine, etc., to attract pigeons and keep them at home. salt dome a mass of salt forced up into sedimentary rocks. salt fish W.Ind. preserved cod. salt-glaze a hard stoneware glaze produced by throwing salt into a hot kiln containing the ware. salt-grass US grass growing in salt meadows or in alkaline regions. salt horse Naut. sl. 1 salt beef. 2 a naval officer with general duties. salt lake a lake of salt water. salt-lick 1 a place where animals go to lick salt from the ground. 2 this salt. salt-marsh = sense 5 of n. salt meadow a meadow subject to flooding with salt water. salt a mine sl. introduce extraneous ore, material, etc., to make the source seem rich. the salt of the earth a person or people of great worthiness, reliability, honesty, etc.; those whose qualities are a model for the rest (Matt. 5:13). salt-pan a vessel, or a depression near the sea, used for getting salt by evaporation. salt-shaker US a container of salt for sprinkling on food. salt-spoon a small spoon usu. with a short handle and a roundish deep bowl for taking table salt. salt water 1 sea water. 2 sl. tears. salt-water adj. of or living in the sea. salt-well a bored well yielding brine. salt-works a place where salt is produced. take with a pinch (or grain) of salt regard as exaggerated; be incredulous about; believe only part of. worth one's salt efficient, capable. saltish adj. saltless adj. saltly adv. saltness n.
[ OE s(e)alt s(e)altan, OS, ON, Goth. salt, OHG salz f. Gmc ]