brine Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun water containing salts
    seawater; saltwater.
    • the water in the ocean is all saltwater
  2. noun a strong solution of salt and water used for pickling
  3. verb soak in brine

WordNet

Brine noun
Etymology
AS. bryne a burning, salt liquor, brine, fr. brinnan, brynnan, to burn. See Burn.
Definitions
  1. Water saturated or strongly inpregnated with salt; pickle; hence, any strong saline solution; also, the saline residue or strong mother liquor resulting from the evaporation of natural or artificial waters.
  2. The ocean; the water of an ocean, sea, or salt lake.
    Not long beneath the whelming brine . . . he lay. Cowper.
  3. Tears; -- so called from their saltness.
    What a deal of brine Hath washed thy sallow cheecks for Rosaline! Shak.
Brine transitive verb
Definitions
  1. To steep or saturate in brine.
  2. To sprinkle with salt or brine; as, to brine hay.

Webster 1913