Language: Old English
Origin: sealt


1 noun
salt1 S2 W3
1 [uncountable]DFC a natural white mineral that is added to food to make it taste better or to preserve it:
This might need some salt and pepper.
a pinch of salt (=a very small amount)
Could you pass the salt?

the salt of the earth

someone who is ordinary but good and honest

take something with a pinch/grain of salt

informal to not completely believe what someone tells you, because you know that they do not always tell the truth:
Most of what he says should be taken with a pinch of salt.
4 [countable] technicalHC a type of chemical substance that is formed when an acid is combined with a base
Epsom salts, smelling salts, old salt

; ➔ rub salt into somebody's wounds

at rub1 (7)

; ➔ worth his/her salt

at worth1 (10)

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