salsa
salsa Lexical Profile
salsa Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A spicy, tomato-based condiment or sauce of Mexican origin, typically containing chilies, onions, and cilantro, often served with tortilla chips or tacos.
"We ordered a large bowl of tortilla chips and a mild, freshly made salsa to share."
A popular, lively Latin American dance combining elements of Cuban and Puerto Rican rhythms, characterized by a basic pattern of three steps over four beats of music.
"They took weekly classes to learn how to dance the salsa before their vacation to Havana."
A genre of modern Latin American dance music incorporating elements of jazz, rock, and traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms.
"The live band played energetic salsa that kept the crowd dancing late into the night."
• verb
To dance the salsa.
"The couple salsaed effortlessly across the crowded dance floor, drawing everyone's attention."
Word Nuance & Usage
In English-speaking regions, 'salsa' refers specifically to the chunky, tomato-and-chili-based Mexican condiment, whereas in Spanish, the word broadly translates to any type of sauce.
• Rhymes for salsa
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from Spanish 'salsa' (sauce), which derives from Vulgar Latin 'salsa' (salted things or food), the feminine past participle of the Latin 'sallere' (to salt).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.