salve
1 of 3noun
ˈsav 
ˈsäv,
ˈsalv,
ˈsälv
1
: an unctuous adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores
2
: a remedial or soothing influence or agency
a salve to their hurt feelings
salve
2 of 3verb (1)
salved; salving
transitive verb
1
: to remedy (something, such as disease) with or as if with a salve
2
: quiet, assuage
give him a raise in salary to salve his feelings
Upton Sinclair
Upton Sinclairsalve
3 of 3verb (2)
ˈsalv
salved; salving
transitive verb
: salvage
salvor
ˈsal-vər
noun -ˌvȯr
Synonyms
Verb (1)
- becalm
- calm
- compose
- lull
- lullaby
- quiet
- quieten [chiefly British]
- settle
- soothe
- still
- tranquilize
- tranquillize
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Old English sealf; akin to Old High German salba salve, Greek olpē oil flask
Verb (2)
back-formation from salvage
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (2)
circa 1706, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
salve 1 of 2
noun
ˈsav
ˈsäv
: a healing or soothing ointment
salve
2 of 2verb
salved; salving
: to quiet or soothe with or as if with a salve
Medical Definition
salve
noun
ˈsav ˈsäv ˈsȧv
ˈsäv ˈsȧv ˈsalv,
ˈsälv
: an unctuous adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores
salves 1 of 2
verb
as in soothes
to free from distress or disturbance attempting to salve her conscience, she anonymously sent the store a sum of cash sufficient to cover the merchandise she had shoplifted Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- soothes
- calms
- lulls
- composes
- appeases
- lullabies
- stills
- tranquilizes
- quiets
- relaxes
- becalms
- solaces
- mollifies
- pacifies
- placates
- tranquillizes
- allays
- conciliates
- quietens
- alleviates
- assuages
- settles
- relieves
- hushes
- quells
- eases
- sedates
- narcotizes
- mitigates
- stupefies
- lays
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- keys (up)
- vexes
- upsets
- disquiets
- disturbs
- agitates
- aggravates
- intensifies
- perturbs
- discomposes
- heightens
- arouses
- incites
- stirs (up)
- rouses
- excites
- works up
- foments
salves
2 of 2noun
as in ointments
Synonyms & Similar Words
- ointments
- lotions
- creams
- balms
- liniments
- unguents
- poultices
- plasters
- embrocations
- dressings
- cataplasms