: 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
Don’t reuse contact lens solution that’s been sitting in your case; clean the case with fresh solution at least once a week and leave it open to air dry; and never use tap water or saliva as a wetting agent.
—
Holly Burns, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Blood and saliva tests usually detect nicotine and cotinine for a few days, while urine tests may pick them up for weeks.
—Health, 23 Oct. 2025
The compound could stay active despite the constant flow of saliva.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Reduced saliva production and thinning mouth tissue are common issues for perimenopausal and menopausal women.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saliva
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Holly Burns, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Blood and saliva tests usually detect nicotine and cotinine for a few days, while urine tests may pick them up for weeks.
—Health, 23 Oct. 2025
The compound could stay active despite the constant flow of saliva.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Reduced saliva production and thinning mouth tissue are common issues for perimenopausal and menopausal women.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for saliva
Cite this Entry
“Saliva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/saliva. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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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