saliva

American  

[suh-lahy-vuh] / səˈlaɪ və /

noun

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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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.

---

Other Word Forms

• salivary adjective

Etymology

Origin of saliva

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

Example Sentences

After she died in 2024 in northern Spain, aged 117, scientists took samples from her stool, blood, saliva, and urine and compared them with 75 other women from the Iberian peninsula.

From BBC

Researchers closely tracked symptoms and collected daily nasal swabs, saliva samples, and blood samples to monitor infection and antibody development.

From Science Daily

Even just breathing out little saliva droplets on food that is later consumed by someone else can spread infection.

From Los Angeles Times

They can also be asked to give a preliminary saliva sample.

From BBC

So when she sent a saliva sample to 23andMe in her 20s and got a match with a Brown, she was excited.

From The Wall Street Journal