saturated

Everyday

1. Saturated means completely soaked with water or another liquid. tree →
2. (science) A saturated solution has so much dissolved in it that no more can dissolve. tree →
3. (food) Saturated fat is a kind of fat found mostly in butter, cheese and fatty meat; eating too much is not good for the heart. tree →
4. A saturated market or place is so full of something that there is no room for more. tree →
5. A saturated colour is strong and bright. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons on dissolving: stir salt into water until no more dissolves and the solution is saturated. In health lessons it appears on food labels («saturates»). In everyday life a saturated pitch means a waterlogged field. Phrases: «saturated solution», «saturated fat», «saturated with», «completely saturated».

Examples

• After the storm, the ground was saturated and the match was cancelled. tree →
• Keep adding sugar until the water is saturated and crystals stay at the bottom. tree →
• Warm water can dissolve more salt before it is saturated. tree →
• Butter is high in saturated fat. tree →
• My socks were saturated after I stepped in the puddle. tree →
• The photo looks better with more saturated colours. tree →
• The town is saturated with coffee shops. tree →

Note

Adjective and past form of the verb «saturate». Food labels in the UK call it «saturates». In science: a saturated solution is a fixed limit; heating the water usually raises the limit for solids.