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

When water comes back to saline lakes, the brine flies can repopulate quickly. —Daniel Rothberg, Vox, 1 Oct. 2024

Mono Lake provides habitat for imperiled shorebirds such as Wilson’s phalaropes, which stop at saline lakes during their long migrations, feeding on brine flies and other invertebrates. —Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024

Noun

Outside was a saline swimming pool, a spa, and a pool house with a home gym. —Claudia Williams, Architectural Digest, 12 Dec. 2024

Rats between eight and nine weeks old were administered either a single dose of psilocybin (1.5 mg/kg) or saline. —New Atlas, 7 Oct. 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