bitter lake: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Specialised (geographical/geochemical); Literary/Figurative
Quick answer
What does “bitter lake” mean?
A lake with high salinity, containing significant quantities of sodium sulfate or other bitter-tasting salts.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lake with high salinity, containing significant quantities of sodium sulfate or other bitter-tasting salts.
Used metaphorically to describe a situation, experience, or emotional state that is profoundly unpleasant, disappointing, or a source of lasting regret.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in technical meaning. The figurative use is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Technical: neutral. Figurative: strongly negative, connotes a deep, lingering unpleasantness.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general language; occasional in scientific contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “bitter lake” in a Sentence
The [geological process] created a bitter lake.Her past was a bitter lake she could not cross.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bitter lake” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The bitter lake in the Rann of Kutch is a key site for salt harvesting.
- Their relationship had become a bitter lake of recriminations.
American English
- The Great Salt Lake is arguably the most famous bitter lake in the US.
- He saw his retirement funds vanish, a bitter lake of lost opportunity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially metaphorical: 'The failed merger left a bitter lake of debt.'
Academic
Used in geology, hydrology, and environmental science papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in literal sense. Figurative use is literary.
Technical
Standard term for a specific type of endorheic basin with high sulfate content.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bitter lake”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bitter lake”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bitter lake”
- Using 'bitter lake' to describe any lake that is not fresh (use 'salt lake' as the broader term).
- Overusing the figurative term in everyday speech.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Originally, yes. Early names likely came from the unpleasant taste of the water. Scientifically, it refers to the specific salt composition (e.g., sodium sulfate) which creates a bitter flavour compared to the more common 'salty' taste of sodium chloride.
No, it is a compound noun. You would say 'a bitter-lake environment' (using a hyphenated compound modifier) not 'the lake was bitter lake'.
The Bitter Lakes (Great Bitter Lake, Little Bitter Lake) in the Suez Canal region are historically significant examples.
It is quite rare and literary. Most native speakers would use more common metaphors like 'a bitter pill', 'a sea of troubles', or 'a pool of bitterness'.
A lake with high salinity, containing significant quantities of sodium sulfate or other bitter-tasting salts.
Bitter lake is usually specialised (geographical/geochemical); literary/figurative in register.
Bitter lake: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪtə ˈleɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪt̬ər ˈleɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To be left by the bitter lake (figurative: to be abandoned to a bitter situation).”
- “To drink from the same bitter lake (figurative: to share a deeply unpleasant experience).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine tasting the water of a lake and making a bitter face – it's a bitter lake.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE IS A BITTER BODY OF WATER.
Practice
Quiz
In a technical context, what primarily distinguishes a 'bitter lake' from other salt lakes?