What does saliva mean?

Definitions for saliva
səˈlaɪ vəsali·va

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word saliva.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. saliva, spit, spittlenoun

    a clear liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands of the mouth; moistens the mouth and starts the digestion of starches

Wiktionary

  1. salivanoun

    A clear, slightly alkaline liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands, consisting of water, mucin, protein, and enzymes. It moistens the mouth, lubricates ingested food, and begins the breakdown of starches.

  2. Etymology: From saliva, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from salw-, cognate with salu. More at sallow.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. SALIVAnoun

    Every thing that is spit up; but it more strictly signifies that juice which is separated by the glands called salival. John Quincy

    Etymology: Latin.

    Not meeting with disturbance from the saliva, I the sooner extirpated them. Richard Wiseman, Surgery.

Wikipedia

  1. Saliva

    Saliva (commonly referred to as spit) is an extracellular fluid produced and secreted by salivary glands in the mouth. In humans, saliva is around 99% water, plus electrolytes, mucus, white blood cells, epithelial cells (from which DNA can be extracted), enzymes (such as lipase and amylase), antimicrobial agents (such as secretory IgA, and lysozymes).The enzymes found in saliva are essential in beginning the process of digestion of dietary starches and fats. These enzymes also play a role in breaking down food particles entrapped within dental crevices, thus protecting teeth from bacterial decay. Saliva also performs a lubricating function, wetting food and permitting the initiation of swallowing, and protecting the oral mucosa from drying out.Various animal species have special uses for saliva that go beyond predigestion. Some swifts use their gummy saliva to build nests. Aerodramus nests form the basis of bird's nest soup. Cobras, vipers, and certain other members of the venom clade hunt with venomous saliva injected by fangs. Some caterpillars produce silk fiber from silk proteins stored in modified salivary glands (which are unrelated to the vertebrate ones).

Webster Dictionary

  1. Salivanoun

    the secretion from the salivary glands

  2. Etymology: [L.; cf. Gr. .]

Wikidata

  1. Saliva

    Saliva is a watery substance located in the mouths of organisms, secreted by the salivary glands. Human saliva is 99.5% water, while the other 0.5% consists of electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes, and antibacterial compounds such as secretory IgA and lysozyme. The enzymes found in saliva are essential in beginning the process of digestion of dietary starches and fats. These enzymes also play a role in breaking down food particles entrapped within dental crevices, protecting teeth from bacterial decay. Furthermore, saliva serves a lubricative function, wetting food and permitting the initiation of swallowing, and protecting the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity from desiccation. Various species have special uses for saliva that go beyond predigestion. Some swifts use their gummy saliva to build nests. Aerodramus nests are prized for use in bird's nest soup. Cobras, vipers, and certain other members of the venom clade hunt with venomous saliva injected by fangs. Some arthropods, such as spiders and caterpillars, create thread from salivary glands.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Saliva

    sa-lī′va, n. the spittle, one of the digestive fluids, mainly the product of the salivary glands.—adjs. Salī′val, Sal′ivant, producing salivation.—n. Salī′va-pump, a device for carrying off the accumulating saliva.—adj. Sa′livary, pertaining to, secreting, or containing saliva.—n. that which produces salivation.—v.t. Sal′ivāte, to produce an unusual amount of saliva.—n. Salivā′tion, an unusual flow of saliva.—adj. Sal′ivous, like spittle. [Fr.,—L., allied to Gr. sialon, saliva.]

U.S. National Library of Medicine

  1. Saliva

    The clear, viscous fluid secreted by the SALIVARY GLANDS and mucous glands of the mouth. It contains MUCINS, water, organic salts, and ptylin.

Editors Contribution

  1. saliva

    A form of liquid created in the mouth.

    Saliva contributes to the way we eat our food and how we feel.


    Submitted by MaryC on September 6, 2020  

Suggested Resources

  1. saliva

    Song lyrics by saliva -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by saliva on the Lyrics.com website.

Entomology

  1. Saliva

    the secretion of the salivary glands that moistens and begins the digestion of the food.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. SALIVA

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Saliva is ranked #154907 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Saliva surname appeared 105 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 would have the surname Saliva.

    68.5% or 72 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    15.2% or 16 total occurrences were White.
    14.2% or 15 total occurrences were Asian.

Anagrams for saliva »

  1. salvia

  2. Valais

  3. avails

How to pronounce saliva?

How to say saliva in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of saliva in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of saliva in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of saliva in a Sentence

  1. Anthony Fauci:

    There are no well-documented cases of transmission of HIV by exchange of saliva, it is extraordinarily unlikely that a healthy person can be infected by HIV through French kissing.

  2. Carrie Fisher:

    She's a prisoner of a giant testicle who has a lot of saliva going on and she does not want to wear that thing and it's ultimately that chain, which you're now indicating is some sort of accessory to SM, that is used to kill the giant saliva testicle, that's asinine.

  3. Jean Baudrillard:

    A society which allows an abominable event to burgeon from its dung heap and grow on its surface is like a man who lets a fly crawl unheeded across his face or saliva dribble from his mouth -- either epileptic or dead.

  4. Bonnie Henry:

    There is no evidence that I am aware of that shows Lyssin has any therapeutic benefit, more importantly, I am concerned that if a product did actually contain what is suggested, saliva from a rabid dog, that would put the patient at risk of contracting rabies, a serious, fatal illness.

  5. Eivind Ness-Jensen:

    So, avoid weight gain when quitting smoking, obesity, especially abdominal obesity, increases the pressure on the diaphragm and the muscles separating the esophagus from the stomach, pushing acidic stomach content into the esophagus. Tobacco smoking relaxes the muscles, facilitating reflux, and reduces the production of saliva, which helps clean the esophagus.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

saliva#10000#25041#100000

Translations for saliva

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"saliva." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 9 May 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/saliva>.

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