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Definition of salivation

salivation

/ˌsæl.ɪˈveɪ.ʃən/
sal · i · va · tion
Plural:salivations
•
Adjective:salivary
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salivation Lexical Profile

salivation Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The physiological act or process of secreting saliva into the mouth, or an abnormally excessive flow of saliva.

Example

"Ivan Pavlov famously studied conditioned reflexes by measuring the rate of salivation in dogs just before they were fed."

2

Eager anticipation, intense craving, or greedy desire for something appealing.

Example

"The announcement of the lucrative new infrastructure contract caused immediate salivation among competing construction firms."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for salivation

• Nearby Words

saliva
salivary
salivate
salivation
salix
salk
sallow

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Late Latin salivatio, a noun of action derived from Latin salivare ('to spit out' or 'to secrete saliva'), from saliva ('spittle').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Salivation. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/salivation
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