adjective
fresh
Containing little or no salt.
The fish swims from salt water into fresh water.
Etymology
The older adjective meant fresh or new. In the established contrast with salt water, fresh became the term for water containing little salt.
More examples
- The island has very little fresh water.
- We filled our bottles from a fresh spring.
- These plants cannot survive in fresh water.
Forms
fresh · fresher · freshest
Similar words
- unsalted
- Usually describes food without added salt.