definitions

salve

1
[ sav, sahv ]
/ sæv, sɑv /
||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR salve ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a medicinal ointment for healing or relieving wounds and sores.
anything that soothes, mollifies, or relieves.

verb (used with object), salved, salv·ing.

to soothe with or as if with salve; assuage: to salve one's conscience.

RELATED WORDS

balm, lotion, pacify, mollify, assuage, unburden, alleviate, medication, help, unction, liniment, unguent, remedy, cure, aid, dressing, medicine, lubricant, cream, cerate

Nearby words

salvation, salvation army, salvation jane, salvationist, salvatore, salve, salve regina, salvemini, salver, salverform, salvia

Origin of salve

1
before 900; (noun) Middle English; Old English sealf; cognate with German Salbe salve, Sanskrit sarpis melted butter; (v.) Middle English salven, Old English sealfian

Definition for salve (2 of 3)

salve

2
[ salv ]
/ sælv /

verb (used with or without object), salved, salv·ing.

to save from loss or destruction; to salvage.

Origin of salve

2
First recorded in 1700–10; back formation from salvage

Definition for salve (3 of 3)

salve

3
[ sal-vee; Latin sahl-wey ]
/ ˈsæl vi; Latin ˈsɑl weɪ /

interjection

hail!

Origin of salve

3
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin salvē! literally, be in good health!; cf. salute
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for salve

British Dictionary definitions for salve (1 of 2)

salve

1
/ (sælv, sɑːv) /

noun

an ointment for wounds, sores, etc
anything that heals or soothes

verb (tr)

to apply salve to (a wound, sore, etc)
to soothe, comfort, or appease

Word Origin for salve

Old English sealf; related to Old High German salba, Greek elpos oil, Sanskrit sarpis lard

British Dictionary definitions for salve (2 of 2)

salve

2
/ (sælv) /

verb

a less common word for salvage
an archaic word for save 1 (def. 3)

Word Origin for salve

C18: from salvage
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

Medicine definitions for salve

salve

[ săv, säv ]

n.

An analgesic or medicinal ointment.

Related forms

salve v.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.