Saliva is the watery liquid that forms in your mouth and helps you to chew and digest food.
Synonyms: spit, dribble, drool, slaver More Synonyms of saliva
saliva in British English
(səˈlaɪvə)
noun
the secretion of salivary glands, consisting of a clear usually slightly acid aqueous fluid of variable composition. It moistens the oral cavity, prepares food for swallowing, and initiates the process of digestion
▶ Related adjective: sialoid
Derived forms
salivary (səˈlaɪvərɪ, ˈsælɪvərɪ) or salival (səˈlaɪvəl)
adjective
Word origin
C17: from Latin, of obscure origin
saliva in American English
(səˈlaɪvə)
noun
the thin, watery, slightly viscid fluid secreted by the salivary glands: it serves as an aid to swallowing and digestion by moistening and softening food, and contains enzymes which convert starch to dextrin and maltose
Word origin
L: see salicin
Examples of 'saliva' in a sentence
saliva
They should help her mouth soften food and produce saliva.
The Sun (2009)
Experts say the new method could replace techniques that use blood or saliva samples.
The Sun (2015)
He had noticed that his body produced saliva if he was hungry and he either saw or smelt food.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
It will be looking for volunteers to give a saliva sample and find out if they are a possible match.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The X-rays have also been linked to brain and saliva gland tumours.
The Sun (2010)
My mouth fills with saliva, my cheeks and tongue and head ache with longing.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Drink slowly, and mix well with the saliva in your mouth to ensure good digestion.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley Stay Well This Winter (1989)
The virus is spread by body fluids, such as saliva and blood.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
I stopped being able to produce saliva and my sense of taste disappeared.
The Sun (2013)
It took months to be able to swallow again and produce saliva, meaning my food choices were limited.
The Sun (2013)
It will also be easy to use; either a saliva or blood sample will be all that is required.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Your mouth fills with saliva.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Next day I saw a poodle in the street and my saliva glands were going.
The Sun (2010)
You don't have to produce saliva - that happens when you see or smell food.
Hambly, Dr Kenneth Banish Anxiety - how to stop worrying and take charge of your life (1991)
In other languages
saliva
British English: saliva /səˈlaɪvə/ NOUN
Saliva is the watery liquid that forms in your mouth.
American English: saliva
Arabic: لُعَاب
Brazilian Portuguese: saliva
Chinese: 唾液
Croatian: slina
Czech: slina
Danish: spyt
Dutch: speeksel
European Spanish: saliva
Finnish: sylki
French: salive
German: Speichel
Greek: σάλιο
Italian: saliva
Japanese: 唾液
Korean: 침 입
Norwegian: spytt
Polish: ślina
European Portuguese: saliva
Romanian: salivă
Russian: слюна
Latin American Spanish: saliva
Swedish: saliv
Thai: น้ำลาย
Turkish: tükürük
Ukrainian: слина
Vietnamese: nước bọt
Chinese translation of 'saliva'
saliva
(səˈlaɪvə)
n(u)
唾液 (tuòyè)
(noun)
Definition
the watery fluid secreted by glands in the mouth, which aids digestion
A string of saliva looped from his mouth.
Synonyms
spit
When he took a corner kick he was showered with spit.