perspiration
[pur-spuh-rey-shuh n]
- a salty, watery fluid secreted by the sweat glands of the skin, especially when very warm as a result of strenuous exertion; sweat.
- the act or process of perspiring.
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Origin of perspiration
Synonyms
See more synonyms for perspiration on Thesaurus.com1. 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for perspiration
Contemporary Examples
He was grabbing my hips and he was pouring with perspiration and he had this cheesy smile.
The New Moon insists on persistence and perspiration in equal measure.
Perspiration is a crucial ingredient, but even a dab of it will do you proud.
They say that success is 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration, and perspiration didn't really interest her.
Historical Examples
His face was livid, and great beads of perspiration stood on his brow.
In the Midst of AlarmsRobert Barr
The spasm loosed beads of perspiration which stood cold on his forehead.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
The perspiration stood in beads on the boy's sallow forehead; but he said nothing.
The Boy Life of NapoleonEugenie Foa
The perspiration of the literary labour dropped from his brow.
The Secret AgentJoseph Conrad
Very red and covered with perspiration, Doctor Bonamy waved his arms.
The Three Cities Trilogy, CompleteEmile Zola
perspiration
- the act or process of insensibly eliminating fluid through the pores of the skin, which evaporates immediately
- the sensible elimination of fluid through the pores of the skin, which is visible as droplets on the skin
- the salty fluid secreted through the pores of the skin; sweat
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for perspiration
n.
1610s, from French perspiration (1560s), noun of action from perspirer "perspire," from Latin perspirare "blow or breathe constantly," from per- "through" (see per) + spirare "to breathe, blow" (see spirit (n.)). Applied to excretion of invisible moistures through the skin (1620s), hence used as a euphemism for "sweat" from 1725.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
perspiration
(pûr′spə-rā′shən)- The fluid, consisting of water with small amounts of urea and salts, that is excreted through the pores of the skin by the sweat glands.
- The act or process of excreting this fluid through the pores of the skin.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.