SALIVA
saliva, spit, spittle
(noun) 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
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
saliva (countable and uncountable, plural salivas or salivae or salivæ)
(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.
Synonyms: spit, spittle
Anagrams
• Alavis, Avilas, Slavia, Valais, avails, salvia
Source: Wiktionary
Sa*li"va, n. Etym: [L.; cf. Gr. (Physiol.)
Definition: The secretion from the salivary glands.
Note: In man the saliva is a more or less turbid and slighty viscid
fluid, generally of an alkaline reaction, and is secreted by the
parotid, submaxillary, and sublingual glands. In the mouth the saliva
is mixed with the secretion from the buccal glands. The secretions
from the individual salivary glands have their own special
characteristics, and these are not the same in all animals. In man
and many animals mixed saliva, i.e., saliva composed of the
secretions of all three of the salivary glands, is an important
degestive fluid on account of the presence of the peculiar enzyme,
ptyalin.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition