: 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
Throat lozenges help increase saliva to lubricate your throat.
—
Colleen Murphy, Health, 5 Apr. 2024
The nests, made from the birds’ saliva, are the key ingredient in bird’s nest soup, an expensive delicacy believed by many Chinese to have health benefits.
—Muktita Suhartono Nyimas Laula, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after contact with birds or surfaces that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous, or feces from wild or domestic birds.
—USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
According to Adigun, there are enzymes in your saliva that disrupt this moisture barrier.
—The Enquirer, 27 Jan. 2024
Keep in mind, though: These types of pain relievers aren’t a long-lasting solution, since the saliva in your mouth can dissolve them pretty quickly, Dr. Voigt cautions.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Mar. 2024
The case went cold until undercover officers followed Lazarus and secreted away a sample of her saliva.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2024
For What’s Happening Researchers can analyze the proteins present in a variety of tissues, from biopsies of tumors to biological fluids including blood, saliva, urine, tears or breast milk.
—Danielle Whitham, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
People who are infected with pathogens can expel them from their bodies in saliva, mucus, blood, urine and feces as well as in respiratory secretions in the form of droplets and aerosols.
—Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
Colleen Murphy, Health, 5 Apr. 2024
The nests, made from the birds’ saliva, are the key ingredient in bird’s nest soup, an expensive delicacy believed by many Chinese to have health benefits.
—Muktita Suhartono Nyimas Laula, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Avoid touching your mouth, nose, or eyes after contact with birds or surfaces that may be contaminated with saliva, mucous, or feces from wild or domestic birds.
—USA TODAY, 26 Mar. 2024
According to Adigun, there are enzymes in your saliva that disrupt this moisture barrier.
—The Enquirer, 27 Jan. 2024
Keep in mind, though: These types of pain relievers aren’t a long-lasting solution, since the saliva in your mouth can dissolve them pretty quickly, Dr. Voigt cautions.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 18 Mar. 2024
The case went cold until undercover officers followed Lazarus and secreted away a sample of her saliva.
—Christina Coulter, Fox News, 18 Feb. 2024
For What’s Happening Researchers can analyze the proteins present in a variety of tissues, from biopsies of tumors to biological fluids including blood, saliva, urine, tears or breast milk.
—Danielle Whitham, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
People who are infected with pathogens can expel them from their bodies in saliva, mucus, blood, urine and feces as well as in respiratory secretions in the form of droplets and aerosols.
—Sabrina Sholts, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'saliva.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near saliva
Cite this Entry
“Saliva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saliva. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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