saline

[ sey-leen, -lahyn ]
/ ˈseɪ lin, -laɪn /

adjective

of, containing, or resembling common table salt; salty or saltlike: a saline solution.
of or relating to a chemical salt, especially of sodium, potassium, magnesium, etc., as used as a cathartic.
of or relating to a method of abortion involving injection of hypertonic saline solution into the amniotic cavity during the second trimester.

noun

a sterile solution of sodium chloride used to dilute medications or for intravenous therapy.
salty water; a salty solution.

Origin of saline

1400–50; Middle English: composed of salt < Latin salīnus salty, equivalent to sal sal + -īnus -ine1

OTHER WORDS FROM saline

Example sentences from the Web for salinity

British Dictionary definitions for salinity

saline
/ (ˈseɪlaɪn) /

adjective

of, concerned with, consisting of, or containing common salt a saline taste
med of or relating to a saline
of, concerned with, consisting of, or containing any chemical salt, esp a metallic salt resembling sodium chloride

noun

med an isotonic solution of sodium chloride in distilled water

Derived forms of saline

salinity (səˈlɪnɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for saline

C15: from Late Latin salīnus, from Latin sal salt

Medical definitions for salinity

saline
[ sālēn′, -līn′ ]

adj.

Of, relating to, or containing salt; salty.
Of or relating to chemical salts.

n.

A salt of magnesium or of the alkalis, used in medicine as a cathartic.
A saline solution, especially one that is isotonic to blood.

Scientific definitions for salinity

saline
[ sālēn′ ]

Of or containing salt.