perspiration

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noun per·spi·ra·tion \ˌpər-spə-ˈrā-shən\

Definition of perspiration

1 : the action or process of perspiring
2 : a saline fluid secreted by the sweat glands : sweat

See perspiration defined for English-language learners

See perspiration defined for kids

Examples of perspiration in a Sentence

She wiped the perspiration from her forehead.

Recent Examples of perspiration from the Web

Deodorant is simply made to curb body odor, and antiperspirant is meant to curb sweat (or perspiration).

— emma sarran webster, Teen Vogue, "Deodorant Aluminum: What You Should Know", 5 July 2017
And Lavinthal goes all in on the process, with the pro injecting her armpits with Botox, which prevents the body’s nerves from sending a message to the sweat glands, ultimately preventing perspiration.

— jillian ruffo, PEOPLE.com, "Does Armpit Botox Really Stop Sweating? Watch One PEOPLE Editor Put This Beauty Treatment to the Test", 30 June 2017
Certainly, Friday’s 93 produced perspiration, created discomfort and simulated summer.

— martin weil, Washington Post, "Friday’s high of 93 in Washington far above average but no big deal for residents", 19 May 2017
Their level of disgust was determined by measuring their perspiration.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Open immigration foes biologically motivated by racial, ethnic aversion, study says", 30 Apr. 2017
It's said that genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.

— adam rathe, Town & Country, "How Architect and Designer Patricia Urquiola Prepares Herself to Be Creative", 20 Mar. 2017
Here's a way to give your drinks their own perspiration system.

— rob goodier, Popular Mechanics, "Ingenious Homemade Air Conditioner Ideas", 15 Mar. 2017
Inside, the car will collect a trove of real-time data, such as pupil dilation, perspiration rate and vocal tone, to assess the driver’s emotional state and alter the car to better fit their mood.

— the washington post, The Denver Post, "Your car wants to say hello. And that’s only the start.", 10 Jan. 2017
The acidity coming from Mr. Rubio these days, and the gleefully savage way Mr. Trump has responded, have sent an already surreal presidential campaign lurching into the gutter with taunts over perspiration, urination and self-tanner.

— jeremy w. peters and ashley parker, New York Times, "On the Campaign Trail: G.O.P. Race Grows Cruder and More Aggressive", 28 Feb. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'perspiration'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of perspiration

1583

Other Physiology Terms

eructation, flux, gustatory, menarche, myopia, senescence, torpor

PERSPIRATION Defined for English Language Learners

perspiration

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noun

Definition of perspiration for English Language Learners

: the clear liquid that forms on your skin when you are hot or nervous
: the act or process of perspiring

PERSPIRATION Defined for Kids

perspiration

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noun per·spi·ra·tion \ˌpər-spə-ˈrā-shən\

Definition of perspiration for Students

1 : the act or process of perspiring
2 : salty liquid given off from skin glands

Medical Dictionary

perspiration

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noun per·spi·ra·tion \ˌpər-spə-ˈrā-shən\

Medical Definition of perspiration

1: the act or process of perspiring
2: a saline fluid that is secreted by the sweat glands, that consists chiefly of water containing sodium chloride and other salts, nitrogenous substances (as urea), carbon dioxide, and other solutes, and that serves both as a means of excretion and as a regulator of body temperature through the cooling effect of its evaporation