noun
Uncommon
saliva
suh-LEYE-vuh
Saliva (noun) means the watery fluid produced in the mouth that keeps it moist, helps you chew and swallow, and starts breaking down food. Example: “The dentist asked her not to swallow so he could check her saliva flow.”
noun
1
The watery fluid produced in the mouth that keeps it moist, helps you chew and swallow, and starts breaking down food.
"The dentist asked her not to swallow so he could check her saliva flow."
"The smell of fresh bread made his mouth fill with saliva."
How to use saliva
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe everyday scientific word for spit.
When to use it
More clinical than "spit" — used in medical, dental, and scientific contexts.
Common pairings
saliva sample
saliva test
excess saliva
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Word forms
- Plural
- salivas, salivae, salivæ
- Third person singular
- salivas
- Past tense
- salivaed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dentist asked her not to swallow so he could check her _____ flow.
Etymology
From Latin saliva, "spit" — a word borrowed straight into English with its meaning intact.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for saliva
See all rhymes for saliva →Frequently asked questions
What does “saliva” mean?
The word “saliva” means the watery fluid produced in the mouth that keeps it moist, helps you chew and swallow, and starts breaking down food. In plain terms, the everyday scientific word for spit.
How do you pronounce “saliva”?
“Saliva” is pronounced suh-LEYE-vuh (/səˈlaɪvə/ in IPA).
How do you use “saliva” in a sentence?
Here is “saliva” used in a sentence: “The dentist asked her not to swallow so he could check her saliva flow.”
What part of speech is “saliva”?
“Saliva” is a noun.
Where does the word “saliva” come from?
The word “saliva” comes from Latin. From Latin saliva, "spit" — a word borrowed straight into English with its meaning intact.
Is “saliva” a common word?
“Saliva” is an uncommon word in modern English.
