Main Entry:

¹sa·line

Pronunciation:

\ˈsā-ˌlēn, -ˌlīn\

Function:

adjective

Etymology:

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

Date:

15th century

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>

— sa·lin·i·ty \sā-ˈli-nə-tē, sə-\ noun