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

• salt

Examples of saline in a Sentence

Adjective

tears are saline

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Natron bubbling out of pale saline lakes in the Wadi Natron (west of the Nile) was used in making the blue glaze faience for amulets such as Taweret’s and the scarab beetles such as those produced in a delta factory. —Vanessa Taylor, Big Think, 25 Sep. 2025

Durability tests further demonstrated stable operation over two weeks in highly concentrated saline solutions with 20% salt content, exceeding the salinity of normal seawater, reported Techxplore. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2025

Noun

Using saline, or crystalloid fluids, in case of blood loss is actually harmful for patients, Yazer said. —Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Oct. 2025

The upper layer of the sea, closest to the surface, keeps the denser, CO₂-rich waters contained due to its low saline content. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 19 Oct. 2025

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

Rhymes for saline

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• amine
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between

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