perspiration

[ pur-spuh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. a salty, watery fluid secreted by the sweat glands of the skin, especially when very warm as a result of strenuous exertion; sweat.
2. the act or process of perspiring.

perspiration

/ ˌpɜːspəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of insensibly eliminating fluid through the pores of the skin, which evaporates immediately
2. the sensible elimination of fluid through the pores of the skin, which is visible as droplets on the skin
3. the salty fluid secreted through the pores of the skin; sweat

Word History and Origins

Origin of perspiration¹

First recorded in 1605–15, in sense “a breathing through”; 1620–30 for current senses; from New Latin perspīrātiōn- (stem of perspīrātiō ) “imperceptible sweating,” literally, “a breathing through.” See perspire, -ation

Synonym Study

Perspiration, sweat refer primarily to moisture exuded by animals and people from the pores of the skin. Perspiration is often regarded as the more polite word, and is often used overfastidiously by those who consider sweat coarse; but sweat is a strong word and in some cases obviously more appropriate: a light perspiration; the sweat of his brow. Sweat is always used when referring to animals or objects: Sweat drips from a horse's flanks. It may also be used metaphorically of objects: Sweat forms on apples after they are gathered.

Example Sentences

However, technically, aluminum is only found in antiperspirants because it limits perspiration.

From Popular-Science

Sweat is a sort of channel for human communication, an “honest signal,” writes Everts, with all sorts of “chemical cues” lurking in our perspiration.

From Outside Online

In response, I always showered before a race to ward off anxious perspiration.

From Outside Online

My face, already red from the heat and the aforementioned spewing firehose of perspiration, started to break out and my eyes began itching.

From The Daily Beast

When our bodies are short on fluids, either because we haven’t had enough water or we’ve been sweating profusely, that perspiration—our built-in cooling system—dries up.

From Popular-Science

He was grabbing my hips and he was pouring with perspiration and he had this cheesy smile.

From The Daily Beast

I remember people saying it could be transmitted through perspiration.

From The Daily Beast

The New Moon insists on persistence and perspiration in equal measure.

From The Daily Beast

Perspiration is a crucial ingredient, but even a dab of it will do you proud.

From The Daily Beast

They say that success is 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration, and perspiration didn't really interest her.

From The Daily Beast

But this time, with all his cunning and perspiration, he could not induce another throb in the tired engines.

From Project Gutenberg

The clock struck ten, and clerks poured in faster than ever, each one in a greater perspiration than his predecessor.

From Project Gutenberg

The perspiration stands on young Lamb's face; again his cigar goes out.

From Project Gutenberg

When he was gone, Monsieur de Tressan flung off his wig, and mopped the perspiration from his brow.

From Project Gutenberg

He shifted uneasily, while his handkerchief was kept busy mopping the perspiration from his brow.

From Project Gutenberg