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

1. water containing salts
   • the water in the ocean is all saltwater