saliva
English
/səˈlaɪvə/
noun
Definitions
- (physiology) 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.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin salīva (spittle) derived from Proto-Indo-European *salw-.
Origin
Proto-Indo-European
*salw-
Gloss
Timeline
Distribution of cognates by language
Geogrpahic distribution of cognates
Cognates and derived terms
- antisalivary English
- enterosalivary English
- mucosalivary English
- nonsalivary English
- salival English
- salivalike English
- salivant English
- salivary English
- salivatory English
- salivous English
- venomosalivary English
- salīva Latin
- saliva Italian
- saliva Spanish, Castilian
- *salw- Proto-Indo-European
- saliva Portuguese
- *salwaz Proto-Germanic
- salu Old English
- salowe Middle English
- salivo Esperanto
- saliva Catalan, Valencian
- saile Old Irish