salt
n l a : a crystalline compound NaCl that is the chloride of sodium, is abundant in nature, and is used esp. to season or preserve food or in industry - called also common salt , odium chloride b : a substance (as washing soda) resembling common salt c : any of numerous compounds that result from replacement of part or all of the acid hydrogen of an acid by a metal or a group acting like a metal : an ionic crystalline compound 2 salts pl a : a mineral or saline mixture (as Epsom salts) used as an aperient or cathartic b : SMELLING SALTS adj 1 : SALINE, SALTY 2 : being or inducing the one of the four basic taste sensations that is suggestive of seawater - compare BITTER SOUR SWEET .
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