saliva
UK: səˈlaɪvə | US: səˈlaɪvə
n. the watery liquid secreted into the mouth by glands, aiding digestion and moistening the mouth
The word "saliva" traces back to Latin salīva, meaning "spittle" or "saliva." The root sal- may be linked to the Proto-Indo-European sal- (dirty liquid), reflecting its bodily fluid nature. The suffix -a standardizes it as a noun. Over time, the term retained its core meaning across Romance and Germanic languages, entering Middle English via Old French.
The dentist used a suction device to remove excess saliva during the procedure.
Chewing gum stimulates the production of saliva.
His mouth was dry, lacking the usual saliva needed to speak comfortably.
Some animals use saliva to cool themselves by panting.
The scientist analyzed the chemical composition of saliva in the lab.