saliva

noun

sa·​li·​va sə-ˈlī-və How to pronounce saliva (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for saliva

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of saliva was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Saliva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saliva. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

saliva

noun
sa·​li·​va sə-ˈlī-və How to pronounce saliva (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce saliva (audio)
: 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

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