seawater
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: - Water containing salts: Seawater is the salty water that covers most of the Earth's surface, primarily found in oceans and seas. It is a complex solution of various dissolved salts, with sodium chloride (common salt) being the most abundant.
Usage
Seawater is used as a mass noun to refer to the saline water body collectively. It is typically not used in the plural. - Desalination plants convert seawater into fresh drinking water. - The scientist analyzed a sample of seawater for its mineral content.
Examples
Advanced Usage
- "seawater intrusion": A hydrogeological term for the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers, often due to excessive groundwater pumping.
- Coastal communities must manage their wells carefully to prevent seawater intrusion.
Variants and Related Words
- Saltwater (noun/adjective): Often used interchangeably with "seawater" to mean water containing a significant concentration of dissolved salts. As an adjective, it describes things related to or living in such water (e.g., saltwater fish).
- Brine (noun): Water saturated or strongly impregnated with salt, often more concentrated than typical seawater. Commonly used in industrial or culinary contexts.
- Ocean water (noun phrase): A more specific synonym for seawater, emphasizing its origin in the oceans.
Synonyms
- Saltwater
- Ocean water
- Brine (when referring to very salty water)
Antonyms
- Freshwater: Water that contains minimal amounts of dissolved salts, such as that found in lakes, rivers, and glaciers.
- Potable water: Water that is safe for drinking.
Related Phrases and Compounds
- Seawater desalination: The process of removing salts and minerals from seawater to produce fresh water.
- Seawater corrosion: The accelerated corrosion of metals caused by exposure to seawater.
- Seawater chemistry: The study of the chemical composition and processes in seawater.
Noun
- water containing salts
- the water in the ocean is all saltwater