salivate

American  

[sal-uh-veyt] / ˈsæl əˌveɪt /

verb (used without object)

salivated, salivating

1. to produce saliva.

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verb (used with object)

salivated, salivating

1. to produce an excessive secretion of saliva in, as by mercurial poisoning.

salivate British  

/ ˈsælɪˌveɪt /

verb

1. (intr) to secrete saliva, esp an excessive amount

2. (tr) to cause (a laboratory animal, etc) to produce saliva, as by the administration of mercury

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Other Word Forms

• salivation
  noun
• unsalivated
  adjective
• unsalivating
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of salivate

1650–60; < Latin salīvātus (past participle of salīvāre to cause to salivate); see saliva, -ate ¹

Explanation

To salivate is to drool, or to produce saliva. People also figuratively salivate over things they desire. There are two related types of salivating. The first is simple: when you salivate, you produce saliva in your mouth. People salivate when they smell something delicious cooking or are hungry. You can also describe someone as salivating — metaphorically — over an attractive woman, a handsome man, an expensive car, a high-paying job, or anything else that's desirable. You can also say that people drool over these things they want, although they’re not literally drooling.

Related Words

• froth