brine
Brine (noun) means Water that has a lot of salt dissolved in it, used for pickling or preserving food. Example: “The cucumbers sat in brine for a week before they became pickles.”
How to use brine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery salty water used to preserve or flavor food, and the verb for soaking food in it.
Word forms
brined past tense, brines plural, brines singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cucumbers sat in _____ for a week before they became pickles.
Etymology
From Old English brine, meaning salt water — the root is ancient and shared with several other Germanic languages, all pointing back to the same "salty liquid" idea.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for brine
See all rhymes for brine →Frequently asked questions
What does “brine” mean?
The word “brine” means water that has a lot of salt dissolved in it, used for pickling or preserving food. In plain terms, very salty water used to preserve or flavor food, and the verb for soaking food in it.
How do you pronounce “brine”?
“Brine” is pronounced BRYN (/ˈbɹaɪ̯n/ in IPA).
How do you use “brine” in a sentence?
Here is “brine” used in a sentence: “The cucumbers sat in brine for a week before they became pickles.”
What is the opposite of “brine”?
The opposite of “brine” — its antonyms — are debrine and desalinate.
What part of speech is “brine”?
Depending on how it is used, “brine” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “brine” come from?
The word “brine” comes from Old English. From Old English brine, meaning salt water — the root is ancient and shared with several other Germanic languages, all pointing back to the same "salty liquid" idea.
Is “brine” a common word?
“Brine” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “brine” have?
“Brine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: water that has a lot of salt dissolved in it, used for pickling or preserving food.