saliva

noun

sa·li·va | \ sə-ˈlī-və

Definition of saliva

: 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

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Examples of saliva in a Sentence

our mouths filled with saliva when we smelled the delicious dinner

Recent Examples on the Web Bacterial meningitis starts with an infection similar to a cold and spreads via respiratory and throat secretions, like saliva and phlegm. — Cnn Editorial Research, CNN, 27 May 2021 Siddiqui said the Orchid process begins with a simple at-home saliva test of both parents. — Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2021 The wrestler being slimed with saliva was her nineteen-year-old grandson, Eric Silva. — Dan Greene, The New Yorker, 24 May 2021 Scientists identified participants with mild COVID-19 from the COVIDsortium, a study in three London hospitals where health care workers had undergone weekly samples of blood, saliva and nasal swabs for 16 weeks. — Julie Washington, cleveland, 11 May 2021 The requests came in the two weeks since the Minnesota Department of Health offered saliva test kits to middle schools, high schools and sports organizations to increase surveillance of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. — Jeremy Olson, Star Tribune, 9 May 2021 The team recently reported using the polymerase chain reaction to identify the virus’ genetic material in urine and saliva—as opposed to blood—which could make the hunt for its animal reservoir easier and aid diagnosis in patients. — Daniel Grossman, Science | AAAS, 29 Apr. 2021 The process is relatively simple: Ancestry sends you the test in the mail, which consists of a saliva tube to spit into. — Kelley Macdonald, USA TODAY, 29 Apr. 2021 After morning saliva and urine checks, a home medical appliance designs and prints medicine to optimize your metabolism and microbiome for that day. — New York Times, 27 Apr. 2021

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

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Last Updated

3 Jun 2021

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“Saliva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saliva. Accessed 12 Jun. 2021.

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More Definitions for saliva

saliva

noun

English Language Learners Definition of saliva

: the liquid produced in your mouth that keeps your mouth moist and makes it easier to swallow food

See the full definition for saliva in the English Language Learners Dictionary

saliva

noun

sa·li·va | \ sə-ˈlī-və

Kids Definition of saliva

: a watery fluid that moistens chewed food and contains enzymes which break down starch and that is secreted into the mouth from three pairs of glands near the mouth

saliva

noun

sa·li·va | \ sə-ˈlī-və

Medical Definition of saliva

: a slightly alkaline secretion of water, mucin, protein, salts, and often a starch-splitting enzyme (as ptyalin) that is secreted into the mouth by salivary glands, lubricates ingested food, and often begins the breakdown of starches