Saline Definition, Uses & Examples

Meaning 1：salty (saline)

saline 🔊

/ˈseɪliːn/

adj.

Having salt in it, like seawater or the special salt water used in medicine.

Medical saline IV bag held by nurse in clinic

salty 🔊

➕

/ˈsɔːlti/

adj.

Containing salt, typically referring to water or a solution that has a high concentration of dissolved salt, such as seawater or medical saline solutions.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'sal' (salt) + '-ine' (pertaining to).

💡 Mnemonic

Think of 'salt in line' – a line of salt grains, representing a solution containing salt.

📖 Example

The nurse hung a bag of saline solution to hydrate the patient after the surgery. 🔊 A bag of saline solution was hung by the nurse to hydrate the patient after the surgery.

🔗 Collocations

saline solution – A salt-water solution used in medicine for IV drips or cleaning wounds.

saline water – Water that contains a significant amount of dissolved salt, like seawater.

saline injection – An injection of saline solution into the body for medical purposes.

🔄 Synonyms

salty (adj.) – Having the taste or quality of salt.

briny (adj.) – Very salty, especially like sea water.

brackish (adj.) – Slightly salty, as a mixture of fresh and salt water.

🚫 Antonyms

fresh (adj.) – Not salty, especially referring to water.

sweet (adj.) – Having a pleasant taste free of salt; fresh water.

non-saline (adj.) – Containing no salt.

🌱 Derivatives

salinity (n.) – The concentration of salt in water or soil.

salinization (n.) – The process of increasing salt content in soil or water.

salinize (v.) – To make or become salty.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Latin 'sal' via French, 'saline' entered English in the 14th century. It is widely used in medicine for IV fluids and in chemistry for salt solutions.