saliva

American  

[suh-lahy-vuh] / səˈlaɪ və /

noun

• salivas
  plural

1. a viscid, watery fluid, secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands, that functions in the tasting, chewing, and swallowing of food, moistens the mouth, and starts the digestion of starches.

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saliva British  

/ səˈlaɪvə, səˈlaɪvərɪ, ˈsælɪvərɪ /

noun

1. 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

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saliva Scientific  

/ sə-lī′və /

1. The watery fluid that is secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands. In many animals, including humans, it contains the enzyme amylase, which breaks down carbohydrates. Saliva also contains mucus, which lubricates food for swallowing, and various proteins and mineral salts. Some special chemicals occur in the saliva of other animals, such as anticoagulants in the saliva of mosquitoes.

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saliva Cultural  

1. The fluid produced by the secretions of the salivary glands. Saliva contains enzymes that begin the digestion of starches. It also moistens the mouth tissues and makes food easier to chew and swallow.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• salivary
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• salivas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of saliva

First recorded in 1670–80, saliva is from the Latin word salīva

Explanation

The watery stuff in your mouth is called saliva. Saliva helps you swallow, but it can also be used to prep a spit ball. You might know saliva as spit — but officially, when you spit, you spit saliva. There are special glands inside your mouth that produce saliva, which helps you chew and swallow, and also contains enzymes that start breaking down your food so it can be digested. Saliva is a Latin word, meaning "spittle," but its origin beyond that is a mystery.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

saliva

Although several leads emerged from the programme, it was only when police began taking saliva samples from volunteers that they made an arrest at a residential home near Koblenz.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

By 2015, however, crippling anxiety and loss of control left him so overwhelmed that he carried a water bottle everywhere, terrified that he might choke on his own saliva.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2026

Tests showed that extracts from the bean gum lowered HPV levels by 93% in saliva samples.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 4, 2026

It also injects a bit of saliva, which contains anticoagulants to prevent the host’s blood from clotting as the mosquito feeds.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

A freezing drizzle was falling as he walked to the tube station, tiny raindrops spattering his coat, and when he got there, he was absorbed by how many blobs of saliva were on the stairs.

From "Americanah" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie