: a slightly alkaline secretion of water, mucin, protein, salts, and often a starch-splitting enzyme (such as ptyalin) that is secreted into the mouth by salivary glands, lubricates ingested food, and often begins the breakdown of starches
Examples of saliva in a Sentence
our mouths filled with saliva when we smelled the delicious dinner
Recent Examples on the Web
Alpha-gal is a type of sugar molecule found in Lone Star tick saliva.
—
Jennifer Sabour, Health, 10 May 2024
Some bodily fluids, such as blood, saliva, semen and vaginal fluid, can contain viruses that can be passed on to other people, according to HealthLinkBC, a health website based in British Columbia.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for saliva 
Jennifer Sabour, Health, 10 May 2024
Some bodily fluids, such as blood, saliva, semen and vaginal fluid, can contain viruses that can be passed on to other people, according to HealthLinkBC, a health website based in British Columbia.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 10 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for saliva
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'saliva.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near saliva
Cite this Entry
“Saliva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saliva. Accessed 15 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
saliva
noun
sa·li·va
sə-ˈlī-və 
: a fluid containing water, protein, salts, and often a starch-splitting enzyme that is secreted into the mouth by salivary glands
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