SALVE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does salve mean? 

• SALVE (noun)
  The noun SALVE has 2 senses:

1. semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation

2. anything that remedies or heals or soothes

  Familiarity information: SALVE used as a noun is rare.

• SALVE (verb)
  The verb SALVE has 2 senses:

1. save from ruin, destruction, or harm

2. apply a salve to, usually for the purpose of healing

  Familiarity information: SALVE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SALVE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

balm; ointment; salve; unction; unguent

Hypernyms ("salve" is a kind of...):

curative; cure; remedy; therapeutic (a medicine or therapy that cures disease or relieve pain)

Meronyms (substance of "salve"):

lanolin; wool fat; wool grease (a yellow viscous animal oil extracted from wool; a mixture of fatty acids and esters; used in some ointments and cosmetics)

Domain category:

medical specialty; medicine (the branches of medical science that deal with nonsurgical techniques)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "salve"):

arnica (an ointment used in treating bruises)

baby oil (an ointment for babies)

balsam (an ointment containing a fragrant resin)

carron oil (an ointment formerly used to treat burns)

cerate (a hard medicated paste made of lard or oil mixed with wax or resin)

chrism; chrisom; holy oil; sacramental oil (a consecrated ointment consisting of a mixture of oil and balsam)

lip balm (a balm applied to the lips)

mentholated salve (a salve containing menthol)

mercurial ointment (an ointment containing mercury)

zinc ointment (an ointment containing zinc that is used to treat certain skin diseases)

Derivation:

salve (apply a salve to, usually for the purpose of healing)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Anything that remedies or heals or soothes

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

he needed a salve for his conscience

Hypernyms ("salve" is a kind of...):

redress; remediation; remedy (act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil)

Derivation:

salve (apply a salve to, usually for the purpose of healing)

• SALVE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they salve    ... he / she / it salves   
Past simple: salved   
Past participle: salved   
-ing form: salving   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Save from ruin, destruction, or harm

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

relieve; salvage; salve; save

Hypernyms (to "salve" is one way to...):

deliver; rescue (free from harm or evil)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

salvage (the act of saving goods or property that were in danger of damage or destruction)

salvage (property or goods saved from damage or destruction)

salvation (saving someone or something from harm or from an unpleasant situation)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Apply a salve to, usually for the purpose of healing

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Hypernyms (to "salve" is one way to...):

medicate; medicine (treat medicinally, treat with medicine)

Domain category:

medicine; practice of medicine (the learned profession that is mastered by graduate training in a medical school and that is devoted to preventing or alleviating or curing diseases and injuries)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

Did he salve his foot?

Derivation:

salve (anything that remedies or heals or soothes)

salve (semisolid preparation (usually containing a medicine) applied externally as a remedy or for soothing an irritation)

 Context examples 

He is a seller of pills and salves, very learned in humors, and rheums, and fluxes, and all manner of ailments.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Arnebia Indigo Jade Pearl topical cream contains 12 ingredients including 9 herbs infused in sesame oil, with an additional three powdered ingredients and beeswax added to the infused oil to create the salve.

(Arnebia Indigo Jade Pearl Topical Cream, NCI Thesaurus)

“Put this and that together, my tender pupil,” returned the wary Mowcher, touching her nose, “work it by the rule of Secrets in all trades, and the product will give you the desired result. I say I do a little in that way myself. One Dowager, SHE calls it lip-salve. Another, SHE calls it gloves. Another, SHE calls it tucker-edging. Another, SHE calls it a fan. I call it whatever THEY call it. I supply it for 'em, but we keep up the trick so, to one another, and make believe with such a face, that they'd as soon think of laying it on, before a whole drawing-room, as before me. And when I wait upon 'em, they'll say to me sometimes—WITH IT ON—thick, and no mistake—“How am I looking, Mowcher? Am I pale?”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

They crimped and curled her hair, they polished her neck and arms with some fragrant powder, touched her lips with coralline salve to make them redder, and Hortense would have added 'a soupcon of rouge', if Meg had not rebelled.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

By your leave, my red-headed friend, I should be right sorry to exchange buffets with you; and I will allow that there is no man in the Company who would pull against you on a rope; so let that be a salve to your pride.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)