1. noticeable or striking: particularly noticeable, striking, or relevant
2. projecting: sticking out from a surface
3. mathematics projecting outward: describes an angle that projects outward from a polygon
4. heraldry jumping: in heraldry, represented as a jumping or leaping animal
noun (pluralsa·li·ents)
Definition:
1. military projecting part of defensive alignment: a part of a military front, line, or fortification that projects outward into enemy-held territory or toward the enemy
2. mathematics salient angle: an angle that projects outwards from a polygon
[Mid-17th century. < Latin salient-, present participle of salire "leap"]
sa·li·ence noun
sa·li·ent·ly adverb
Word History
The Latin word salire "to jump, leap," from which salient is derived, is also the source of English assail, assault, desultory, insult, salacious, sally1, and sauté.
