brine

American  

[brahyn] / braɪn /

noun

1. water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt.

2. a salt and water solution for pickling.

3. the sea or ocean.

4. the water of the sea.

5. Chemistry. any saline solution.

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verb (used with object)

brined, brining

1. to treat with or steep in brine.

brine British  

/ braɪn /

noun

1. a strong solution of salt and water, used for salting and pickling meats, etc

2. the sea or its water

3. chem

   1. a concentrated solution of sodium chloride in water

   2. any solution of a salt in water

      a potassium chloride brine

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verb

1. (tr) to soak in or treat with brine

brine Scientific  

/ brīn /

1. Water saturated with or containing large amounts of a salt, especially sodium chloride. The high salt content is usually due to evaporation or freezing.

2. The water of a sea or ocean.

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Other Word Forms

• brineless
  adjective
• briner
  noun
• brinish
  adjective
• brinishness
  noun
• unbrined
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of brine

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English brȳne; cognate with Dutch brijn

Explanation

Water that contains salt is called brine. You can always tell when you are close to the ocean, because you can smell the brine and hear the sea gulls. Brine is also a salty solution used to pickle or preserve foods. If you want to make pickles, you have to soak cucumbers in brine for several days or even weeks before canning them. As a verb, brine means to soak in a salty solution. If you live in the southern United States, you might brine watermelon rind and okra, which may sound strange to someone from Michigan's Upper Peninsula who's more familiar with brining eggs.

Example Sentences

Insurance companies are “getting less coverage for a higher cost, which is very similar to what a lot of consumers are seeing as well,” said Kenton Brine, president of the Northwest Insurance Council.

From Seattle Times • May 24, 2024

The fire also damaged a vacant restaurant that used to be Ruby’s Diner and a snack shop that housed the Brine Box, a seafood eatery.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2024

After the episode was broadcast, a joint letter signed by ME campaign groups was sent to Culture, Media and Sport Committee chairwoman Dame Caroline Dinenage and Health and Social Care Committee chairman Steve Brine.

From BBC • Jan. 25, 2024

“Everything is tougher,” said Kenton Brine, president of the Northwest Insurance Council.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 19, 2023

British warships, however, were keeping their Watch on the Brine, though the soldiers could not see them.

From The Childrens' Story of the War, Volume 1 (of 10) From the Beginning of the War to the Landing of the British Army in France by Parrott, James Edward

Related Words

• marinade
• vinegar