salt

salt¹ W3S2 [so:lt US so:lt] n

[: Old English; Origin: sealt]

1.) [U]

a natural white mineral that is added to food to make it taste better or to preserve it

▪ This might need some salt and pepper.

▪ a pinch of salt (=a very small amount)

▪ Could you pass the salt?

2.) the salt of the earth

someone who is ordinary but good and honest

3.) take sth with a pinch/grain of salt informal

to not completely believe what someone tells you, because you know that they do not always tell the truth

▪ Most of what he says should be taken with a pinch of salt.

4.) technical

a type of chemical substance that is formed when an acid is combined with a ↑base

→↑Epsom salts, ↑smelling salts, ↑old salt,rub salt into sb's wounds at ↑rub¹ (7), worth his/her salt at ↑worth¹ (10)

salt ²

salt² v [T usually passive]

1.) to add salt to food to make it taste better

▪ salted peanuts

2.) also salt down

to add salt to food to preserve it

salted pork/meat/fish

▪ The meat is salted to store it through the winter.

3.) to put salt on the roads to prevent them from becoming icy

salt away [salt sth<=>away] phr v

to save money for the future, especially dishonestly by hiding it

▪ She salted the money away in a secret account.

salt ³

salt³ adj [only before noun]

1.) preserved with salt

▪ salt pork

2.) salt water

water that contains salt, especially naturally in the sea

3.) consisting of salt water

▪ a salt lake