1
: consisting of or containing salt
a saline solution
2
: of, relating to, or resembling salt : salty
a saline taste
3
: consisting of or relating to the salts of the alkali metals or of magnesium
a saline cathartic
1
: a metallic salt
especially
: a salt of potassium, sodium, or magnesium with a cathartic action
2
: a saline solution
especially
: one isosmotic with body fluids
Synonyms
Examples of saline in a Sentence
Adjective
tears are saline
Recent Examples on the Web
Daniel Rothberg, Vox, 1 Oct. 2024
Mono Lake provides habitat for imperiled shorebirds such as Wilson’s phalaropes, which stop at saline lakes during their long migrations, feeding on brine flies and other invertebrates.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024
In severe cases, treatment is delivered in a hospital with intravenous saline fluids.
—James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, Md, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for saline 
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Adjective
When water comes back to saline lakes, the brine flies can repopulate quickly.
—Daniel Rothberg, Vox, 1 Oct. 2024
Mono Lake provides habitat for imperiled shorebirds such as Wilson’s phalaropes, which stop at saline lakes during their long migrations, feeding on brine flies and other invertebrates.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024
Noun
Their 2022 is delightful with a nose of lemongrass, lemon zest, honeydew melon, and a touch of saline.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 4 Nov. 2024
In severe cases, treatment is delivered in a hospital with intravenous saline fluids.
—James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, Md, Verywell Health, 30 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for saline
Dictionary Entries Near saline
Cite this Entry
“Saline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saline. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
1
: consisting of or containing salt
a saline solution
2
: of, relating to, or resembling salt : salty
a saline taste
3
: consisting of or relating to the salts especially of lithium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium
a saline cathartic
4
: relating to or being abortion induced by the injection of a highly concentrated saline solution into the amniotic sac
saline amniocentesis
saline
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a metallic salt
especially
: a salt of potassium, sodium, or magnesium with a cathartic action
b
: an aqueous solution of one or more such salts
2
: a saline solution used in physiology
especially
: physiological saline
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