salsa

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A spicy tomato sauce of Mexican origin, often including onions and hot peppers.

   Congressmen gleefully wolfed down every imaginable version of the hot dog – smoked kielbasas, jumbo grillers, Big & Juicy's, kosher dogs and spiced dogs – topped with every imaginable condiment – hot mustard, sweet mustard, jalapenos, spaghetti sauce, regular relish, corn relish, maple syrup salsa and the secret sauce of Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.). ("If I told you the recipe," an aide explained, "I'd have to shoot you.")

2. 2
   noun

   A style of urban music originally from New York heavily influenced by Cuban dance music, jazz and rock.

   The marina was a mainstay of the neighborhood, and Mr. O’Rourke was known for staging salsa and merengue concerts.

3. 3
   verb

   To dance the salsa.

   They salsaed late until the night.

4. 4
   noun

   spicy sauce of tomatoes and onions and chili peppers to accompany Mexican foods

5. 5
   noun

   Any of several dances performed to salsa music.

Etymology

PIE word *sḗh₂l Borrowed from Spanish salsa (“sauce”), from Latin salsus (“salted”), whence also the doublet sauce (via Old French).