sal
A1Neutral to formal for the chemical sense; informal for 'old salt'.
Definition
Meaning
A white crystalline substance, sodium chloride, used for seasoning and preserving food.
A chemical compound formed by the reaction of an acid with a base; something that gives piquancy, interest, or character; a seasoned sailor (old-fashioned, informal).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The primary sense is overwhelmingly dominant. The chemical sense is technical. The 'old salt' sense is dated and idiomatic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The chemical term 'salt' is universal. The idiom 'old salt' is understood but equally dated in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical connotations of preservation, flavour, and essentialness. 'Salt of the earth' (a very good, honest person) is equally common.
Frequency
Equal high frequency for the core noun. The verb 'to salt' (e.g., to salt food, to salt a mine) is equally common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
salt [something] (with something)be salted with [something][something] is salted awayVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “take with a grain of salt”
- “salt of the earth”
- “worth one's salt”
- “rub salt in the wound”
- “old salt”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In finance, 'to salt away' means to save or invest money secretly.
Academic
In chemistry, a compound resulting from neutralisation of an acid.
Everyday
Used for seasoning food during cooking or at the table.
Technical
In geology, road maintenance (rock salt for de-icing), and computing (cryptographic salt).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Don't forget to salt the chips.
- He was accused of salting the gold mine to attract investors.
American English
- Be sure to salt the pasta water.
- They salted away millions in offshore accounts.
adverb
British English
- This meat is salted and dried for preservation. (past participle used adjectivally)
American English
- The fish is salt-cured. (compound adjective)
adjective
British English
- The soup is too salty.
- They drove through salt water at high tide.
American English
- I prefer salted butter for cooking.
- The salt flats stretched for miles.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Can you pass the salt, please?
- I put salt on my eggs.
- Too much salt is bad for your health.
- The recipe says to add a teaspoon of salt.
- The data should be taken with a grain of salt as the sample size was small.
- Sea salt is often marketed as a healthier alternative to table salt.
- The journalist's claims were heavily salted with unverified anecdotes.
- Ancient soldiers were sometimes paid in salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SALT: Seasoning Added to Lift Taste.
Conceptual Metaphor
SALT IS VALUE (worth his salt), SALT IS SKEPTICISM (take it with a grain of salt), SALT IS PAIN (rub salt in the wound).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse 'salt' with 'sugar' (сахар). The word 'salt' is a false friend of Russian 'соль' only in spelling, the meaning is correct.
- The idiom 'take with a grain of salt' does not relate to literal salt consumption, but to skepticism.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect article use: *'Add a salt' (uncountable) vs. 'Add salt' or 'Add a pinch of salt'.
- Confusing 'salt' (noun) with 'salted' (adjective).
Practice
Quiz
What does the idiom 'worth his salt' mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable (e.g., Add salt). It becomes countable when referring to types (e.g., mineral salts, bath salts) or a specific amount (e.g., a salt of the earth).
Sea salt is produced by evaporating seawater and often contains trace minerals, giving it a different flavour and texture. Table salt is mined from underground deposits, finely ground, and usually has added iodine and anti-caking agents.
It originates from the Latin 'cum grano salis'. Pliny the Elder wrote about a poison antidote to be taken with a grain of salt, implying a need for skepticism or caution.
Yes. It primarily means to add salt to food. It can also mean to fraudulently place valuable minerals in a mine to make it seem profitable, or to secretly store money ('salt away').