saliva

noun

sa·​li·​va sə-ˈlī-və 

: 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

Synonyms

• drool
• slaver
• slobber
• spit
• spittle

Examples of saliva in a Sentence

our mouths filled with saliva when we smelled the delicious dinner

Recent Examples on the Web

This field includes liquid biopsy, referring to techniques that process bodily fluids such as blood, urine, and saliva for different disease biomarkers. —Cat Wang, Forbes.com, 23 May 2025

You’re Exposed to Tear Gas Tear gas is a thick, powdery fog that sticks to moisture like saliva, sweat, tears, and mucous membranes and causes an intense burning sensation. —Louryn Strampe, Wired News, 9 Apr. 2025

Chewing gum can release hundreds of microplastics—or tiny plastic particles—into saliva, a new study found. —Julia Ries, Health, 1 Apr. 2025

Waldinger, the fourth steward of the Harvard study, was moved by the consistency of his own research and the work that preceded him — the thousands of questionnaires, saliva samples, genetic analyses, cholesterol reports, dental records, I.Q. tests, wide-ranging interviews and brain scans. —Kirsten Potter Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for saliva

• godiva
• conjunctiva
• conjunctivae

Kids 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

Medical Definition

saliva

noun

sa·​li·​va sə-ˈlī-və 

: 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