perspiration

[ pur-spuh-rey-shuh n ]

/ ˈpɜr spəˈreɪ ʃən /

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noun

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.

Nearby words

perspex, perspicacious, perspicacity, perspicuity, perspicuous, perspiration, perspiratory, perspire, persson, persuade, persuader

Origin of perspiration

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

SYNONYMS FOR perspiration

1 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.

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for perspiration

He was grabbing my hips and he was pouring with perspiration and he had this cheesy smile.
From Playboy Prince to Dirty Old Man?|Tom Sykes|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The New Moon insists on persistence and perspiration in equal measure.
Your Week: What the Stars Predict|Starsky + Cox|August 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Perspiration is a crucial ingredient, but even a dab of it will do you proud.
What the Stars Predict for Your Week|Starsky + Cox|August 20, 2011|DAILY BEAST
They say that success is 10 per cent inspiration and 90 per cent perspiration, and perspiration didn't really interest her.
A Fashion Icon's Life After Death|Jacob Bernstein|July 7, 2010|DAILY BEAST

His arms were growing heavy with fatigue, his mouth was parched, and great beads of perspiration stood upon his brow.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Suddenly she perceived that her dress was wet with perspiration and grimy with dust.
Rose of Dutcher's Coolly|Hamlin Garland
The perspiration stood in glistening beads upon his forehead.
Sevenoaks|J. G. Holland
His forehead was wet with perspiration, but he no longer trembled.
Rene Mauperin|Edmond de Goncourt and Jules de Goncourt
At night men, women and children stripped naked, and even then the perspiration poured off them.
From Paris to New York by Land|Harry de Windt

British Dictionary definitions for perspiration

perspiration

/ (ˌpɜːspəˈreɪʃən) /

noun

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

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

Medicine definitions for perspiration

perspiration

[ pûr′spə-rā′shən ]

n.

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.

Related forms

per•spir′a•to′ry (pər-spīr′ə-tôr′ē, pûr′spər-ə-) adj.