- salt
- [[t]sɔ͟ːlt[/t]]
♦♦♦salts, salting, salted1) N-UNCOUNT Salt is a strong-tasting substance, in the form of white powder or crystals, which is used to improve the flavour of food or to preserve it. Salt occurs naturally in sea water.
Season lightly with salt and pepper.
...a pinch of salt.
2) VERB When you salt food, you add salt to it.[V n] Salt the stock to your taste and leave it simmering very gently.
Derived words:3) N-COUNT: usu pl Salts are substances that are formed when an acid reacts with an alkali.The rock is rich in mineral salts.
4) → See also , smelling salts5) PHRASE: oft v-link PHR If you describe someone as the salt of the earth, you have a lot of respect for them as the type of person who deals with difficult or demanding situations without making any unnecessary fuss.Most of the people there are salt-of-the-earth, good, working-class people.
6) PHRASE: V inflects If you take something with a pinch of salt, you do not believe that it is completely accurate or true.You have to take these findings with a pinch of salt because respondents tend to give the answers they feel they should.
7) PHRASE: n PHR If you say, for example, that any doctor worth his or her salt would do something, you mean that any doctor who was good at his or her job or who deserved respect would do it.No golf teacher worth his salt would ever recommend that you grip the club tightly.
8) PHRASE: V and wound inflect If someone or something rubs salt into the wound, they make the unpleasant situation that you are in even worse, often by reminding you of your failures or faults.I had no intention of rubbing salt into a friend's wounds, so all I said was that I did not give interviews.
Phrasal Verbs:
English dictionary. 2008.
