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saliva

saliva

72 1.3
A clear, watery liquid in the mouth that makes food wet and starts digestion
  • noun
  • /səˈlaɪvə/
translation icon : saliva
  • My mouth was still full, the gravy diluted by warm saliva I could not swallow.
  • secrete saliva
  • saliva contains proteins
  • artificial saliva

They're wet, saliva gathering in the soft center.

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Examples

  • When you think about tasty food, your mouth produces more saliva.

  • Another group of animals whose saliva has been key to survival is the tick.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The saliva in the mouth was an important defense.

  • At times he would pause, wet his finger with saliva, and check the direction of the wind.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • And we also collected saliva for cortisol levels.

  • Biological samples, including blood, urine, saliva, and fat, were taken from volunteers.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Mr. Bailes, a bus driver, was dismissed after a saliva drug test picked up traces of cocaine.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Astronauts aren't trained how to swallow their saliva in space.

  • Yeah, we don't have a dog because you're allergic to their saliva.

  • The unfit males were able to secrete saliva after receiving food in the laboratory.

    Academic text (1993)

Synonyms

spit
vssaliva
57 1.0

A small amount of liquid from the mouth

is the mouth liquid produced to moisten food and start digestion
drool
vssaliva
38 1.7

Wet saliva that comes out of the mouth without meaning to

is the mouth liquid produced to moisten food rather than dripping
spittle
vssaliva
8 6.0

A liquid that comes out of the mouth

is the general mouth liquid that moistens food and begins starch digestion
slobber
vssaliva
6 3.7

Saliva that drips from the mouth, often when excited or unable to control it

is the mouth liquid made to moisten food, not an emotional overflow

How Much

drool
38 1.7
spit
57 1.0
saliva
72 1.3
dry mouth
  • Specialized
7 3.2

Surface Forms

saliva singular
salivas plural

Etymology

Saliva comes from the old Latin word saliva, which meant 'spit' or 'mouth liquid'. So saliva is the clear, watery liquid your mouth makes to moisten food and start digestion, and you see the same root in the verb salivate, which means 'to produce saliva'.