salty

adj. denoting the taste elicited by sodium chloride or lithium chloride, by other sodium and lithium salts, and by the amino acid arginine. Sodium is the primary ion for generating osmotic forces in an organism and is an essential carrier of electrical potentials; it cannot be produced in the body and therefore must be ingested. —saltiness n.

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Psychology term of the day

January 27th 2025

terminal care

services for people with terminal illness, now usually provided by hospices, which may be either freestanding units or associated with hospitals, nursing homes, or extended care facilities. The emphasis is on palliative care, pain control, supportive psychological services, and involvement in family and social activities, with the goal of enabling patients to live out their lives in comfort, peace, and dignity.