English Explanatory Dictionary

saliva

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A clear, slightly alkaline liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands, consisting of water, mucin, protein, and enzymes. It moistens the mouth, lubricates ingested food, and begins the breakdown of starches.
verb
  1. to salivate
name
  1. Alternative form of Saliba (“language”).

Pronunciation

sə-līʹ-və /səˈlaɪvə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-saliva.wav

Word forms

saliva salivas salivae salivæ salivaing salivaed

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Latin salīva (“spittle”), replacing or merging with Middle English salive, salve (“saliva”), from the same Latin source. Further origin uncertain. Perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *salw-, *sal- (“dirt, dirty”), cognate with Old English salu (“dark, dusky”). More at sallow. Displaced Middle English slaver, slavere ("saliva"; whence Modern English slaver); and Middle English spyttle, spetel, spatel, spotel ("saliva"; whence Modern English spittle, spettle, spattle).

Synonyms

spit spittle slobber drool

Related words

salivation drool sputum

Derived words

saliva ejector saliva gland salival salivaless salivalike salivant salivary salivate saliva test salivatory salivous sea saliva
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