saline
Definitions
Containing salt; salty.
含盐的，咸的。
A solution of salt in water, especially the sterile salt water used in medicine.
盐水溶液，尤指医学上使用的无菌生理盐水。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedsal (salt) + -ine (of, relating to) = 'of salt, salt-containing.' This is the Latin, scientific cousin of the everyday word salty: a chemist or doctor says saline where a cook says salty. As a noun, saline is the salt-water solution itself.
Root sal still carries 9 more wordsUsage Guide
- Medical: 'saline solution' or just 'saline' is sterile salt water for IV drips, rinsing wounds, and contact lenses.
- Register: prefer saline in scientific/medical contexts; use salty for taste and everyday speech.
- It can describe environments too: saline soil, saline lakes (too salty for most crops or fish).
Example Sentences
- 1.
The nurse flushed the wound with sterile saline before bandaging it.
- 2.
These crops cannot grow in such saline soil.
- 3.
He was put on a saline drip to prevent dehydration.
Easily Confused
saline vs salty — Same idea, different register. salty is for taste and casual speech (salty chips, salty sea air); saline is for science and medicine (saline solution, saline soil). You wouldn't ask a waiter for 'saline fries,' and a doctor wouldn't order a 'salty drip.'