salsa

[ sahl-suh; Spanish sahl-sah ]

/ ˈsɑl sə; Spanish ˈsɑl sɑ /

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noun

Mexican Cooking. a hot sauce of tomatoes and chile peppers with onion and garlic, and sometimes seasoned with cumin or fresh cilantro, often used as a condiment or served as a dip.

a lively, vigorous type of contemporary Latin American popular music, blending predominantly Cuban rhythms with elements of jazz, rock, and soul music.

a ballroom dance of Puerto Rican origin, performed to this music, similar to the mambo, but faster with the accent on the first beat instead of the second beat of each measure.

verb (used without object)

to dance the salsa.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of salsa

First recorded in 1845–50, and in 1970–75 for defs. 2, 3; from Latin American Spanish, Spanish: literally, “sauce”; the dance and music were probably so called originally because of the mixture of styles

Words nearby salsa

salpingitis, salpingo-, salpingostomy, salpingotomy, salpinx, salsa, salsa verde, salsify, sal soda, salt, salta

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use salsa in a sentence

In most of the videos, amateur salsa makers practice the craft over a sink or a kitchen counter.
Salsa made with a drill, and more: TikTok offers glimpses of life during the Texas storm|Travis Andrews|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
The proof is in the sheer number of TikToks featuring homemade salsa.
Salsa made with a drill, and more: TikTok offers glimpses of life during the Texas storm|Travis Andrews|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
Candice Woo, Eater San Diego editorEl Machete 1924, Los Angeles LA-based El Machete 1924 has a line of handcrafted salsas, and all of them are brilliant.
The Best Specialty Brand Salsas According to Eater Editors|Mario A. Cortez|December 18, 2020|Eater
Missy Frederick, Eater cities director I’m obsessed with salsa seca, a dry, crunchy mix of seeds, chiles, and spices that adds as much texture as flavor to anything you put it on.
The Best Specialty Brand Salsas According to Eater Editors|Mario A. Cortez|December 18, 2020|Eater

Ashok Selvam, Eater Chicago senior editorArriba labels promising “fire-roasted” salsa do not lie.
The Best Specialty Brand Salsas According to Eater Editors|Mario A. Cortez|December 18, 2020|Eater
Occasionally a pamphlet for a salsa class might be tossed on a doorstop or stuck on a pole near a bus stop.
Iran’s Becoming a Footloose Nation as Dance Lessons Spread|IranWire|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At under 200 pages, the book seems like chips and salsa on the table when you are expecting a four course meal.
Noam Chomsky—Infuriating and Necessary|David Masciotra|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is served atop tamarind butter sauce and topped with grilled pineapple salsa.
A Magical Meal at Louie’s Backyard in the Conch Republic|Jane & Michael Stern|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Chile relleno is another meatless meal, served in a mild salsa ranchero redolent of tomatoes.
Holy Molé: Tucson’s Mexican Food with a Kick|Jane & Michael Stern|June 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They ate chips and salsa and guacamole and steak fajitas and slept in a real bed for the first time in days, indoors.
We Survived the Triumph: Passengers Describe Their Doomed Carnival Cruise|Winston Ross, Eliza Shapiro, Sam Register|February 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
I stepped into the nearest burrito joint and ordered one with carnitas -- shredded pork -- and extra salsa.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
The Italians call a preface salsa del libro, the salt of the book.
Flowers from a Persian Garden and Other Papers|W. A. Clouston
In the same locality is the basilica of Saint Salsa erected over her tomb.
The American Journal of Archaeology, 1893-1|Various
You could serve her old tires and she'd eat 'em if she could smother them in salsa.
Little Brother|Cory Doctorow
Baldissera opened negotiations with the negus through Major Salsa, and simultaneously reorganized the Italian army.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 1|Various

British Dictionary definitions for salsa

salsa

/ (ˈsælsə) /

noun

a type of Latin American big-band dance music

a dance performed to this kind of music

Mexican cookery a spicy tomato-based sauce

Word Origin for salsa

C20: from Spanish: sauce

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

salsa

Origin of salsa

Words nearby salsa

Words related to salsa

How to use salsa in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for salsa

Word Origin for salsa