one of the four basic taste sensations; like the taste of sea water
"The soup was too salty, making it impossible to swallow without drinking a glass of water first."
Tasting of salt.
"The soup was slightly salty, so I added a little water to balance the flavor."
The word "salty" comes from Middle English salti, which combines the word for salt with a suffix meaning "like." Its original sense of being coarse or irritated likely stems from the sharp, spicy flavor of salt itself.