saline

1 of 2

adjective

sa·​line ˈsā-ˌlēn 

-ˌlīn

1

: consisting of or containing salt

a saline solution

2

: of, relating to, or resembling salt : salty

a saline taste

3

: consisting of or relating to the salts of the alkali metals or of magnesium

a saline cathartic

salinity

sā-ˈli-nə-tē 

sə-

noun

saline

2 of 2

noun

1

: a metallic salt

especially : a salt of potassium, sodium, or magnesium with a cathartic action

2

: a saline solution

especially : one isosmotic with body fluids

Synonyms

Adjective

• brackish
• briny
• salt
• salty

Examples of saline in a Sentence

Adjective

tears are saline

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Sodium chloride: Commonly found in saline nasal sprays, this ingredient moisturizes and flushes out irritants from the nose to provide relief for dryness and itching. —Shannon Ullman, Health, 6 May 2024

Some types of migratory shorebirds rely on saline lakes, including Mono Lake in California and the Great Salt Lake in Utah, on their long migrations. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French salin, from Latin salinus, from sal salt — more at salt

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1662, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing saline

• hyper-saline
• physiological saline

Kids Definition

saline

adjective

sa·​line

ˈsā-ˌlēn,

-ˌlīn

1

: consisting of or containing salt

a saline solution

2

: of, relating to, or resembling salt

salinity

sā-ˈlin-ət-ē

sə-

noun

Medical Definition

saline

1 of 2 adjective

sa·​line ˈsā-ˌlēn  -ˌlīn 

1

: consisting of or containing salt

a saline solution

2

: of, relating to, or resembling salt : salty

a saline taste

3

: consisting of or relating to the salts especially of lithium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium

a saline cathartic

4

: relating to or being abortion induced by the injection of a highly concentrated saline solution into the amniotic sac

saline amniocentesis

saline

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a metallic salt

especially : a salt of potassium, sodium, or magnesium with a cathartic action

b

: an aqueous solution of one or more such salts

2

: a saline solution used in physiology

especially : physiological saline