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
• spit
• spittle

Examples of saliva in a Sentence

our mouths filled with saliva when we smelled the delicious dinner

Recent Examples on the Web

The researchers analyzed saliva collected from 122,000 healthy adults who participated in two larger cancer studies and followed them for approximately nine years. —Amy McGorry, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025

Mice contaminate food, chew up everything in sight, and spread illnesses through their urine, saliva, and droppings, says Sheldon Owen, a wildlife extension specialist at West Virginia University. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025

Police linked the saliva to both homicides and the 2021 rape test exam. —Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025

Esteller and the research team took samples from Branyas’ blood, saliva, urine and stool before examining her genome and comparing it with those belonging to 75 other Iberian women. —Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 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