EPSOM SALTS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Epsom salts mean? 

• EPSOM SALTS (noun)
  The noun EPSOM SALTS has 2 senses:

1. hydrated magnesium sulfate that is taken orally to treat heartburn and constipation and injected to prevent seizures

2. (used with a singular noun) hydrated magnesium sulfate used as a laxative

  Familiarity information: EPSOM SALTS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• EPSOM SALTS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Hydrated magnesium sulfate that is taken orally to treat heartburn and constipation and injected to prevent seizures

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

bitter salts; Epsom salts

Hypernyms ("Epsom salts" is a kind of...):

magnesium sulfate (a salt of magnesium)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(used with a singular noun) hydrated magnesium sulfate used as a laxative

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("Epsom salts" is a kind of...):

aperient; cathartic; physic; purgative (a purging medicine; stimulates evacuation of the bowels)

Domain usage:

plural; plural form (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

 Context examples 

Galileo's spectrometer found water ice and a substance that appeared to be magnesium sulfate salts (like Epsom salts).

(Table Salt Compound Spotted on Europa, NASA)