Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Brine?

\Brine\, n. [AS. bryne a burning, salt liquor, brine, fr. brinnan, brynnan, to burn. See {Burn}.] 1. Water saturated or strongly impregnated 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 fly} (Zo["o]l.), a fly of the genus {Ephydra}, the larv[ae] of which live in artificial brines and in salt lakes. {Brine gauge}, an instrument for measuring the saltness of a liquid. {Brine pan}, a pit or pan of salt water, where salt is formed by cristallization. {Brine pit}, a salt spring or well, from which water is taken to be boiled or evaporated for making salt. {Brine pump} (Marine Engin.), a pump for changing the water in the boilers, so as to clear them of the brine which collects at the bottom. {Brine shrimp}, {Brine worm} (Zo["o]l.), a phyllopod crustacean of the genus {Artemia}, inhabiting the strong brines of salt works and natural salt lakes. See {Artemia}. {Brine spring}, a spring of salt water. {Leach brine} (Saltmaking), brine which drops from granulated salt in drying, and is preserved to be boiled again.
\Brine\, v. t. 1. To steep or saturate in brine. 2. To sprinkle with salt or brine; as, to brine hay.