How Do You Spell SALIVA?

Pronunciation: [sɐlˈa͡ɪvə] (IPA)

Saliva is a bodily fluid produced by the salivary glands. The IPA phonetic transcription for saliva is səˈlaɪvə, which helps to explain its spelling. The "s" sound represents the beginning of the word, while the "ə" and "a" sounds indicate the unstressed and stressed syllables respectively. The "l" and "v" sounds in the middle of the word are represented by their respective letters, followed by the "ə" sound again before the final "a" sound. Overall, the spelling of saliva accurately reflects its pronunciation in English.

SALIVA Meaning and Definition

  1. Saliva, also known as spit, is a clear and watery fluid secreted by the salivary glands in the mouth. It plays a crucial role in the digestive process by moistening, lubricating, and breaking down food in the mouth, facilitating its passage through the digestive system. Saliva is primarily composed of water, but it also contains enzymes, electrolytes, mucus, and antibacterial compounds.

    One of the key functions of saliva is to begin the process of digestion. Enzymes present in saliva, such as amylase, initiate the breakdown of carbohydrates, converting starches into smaller molecules that can be easily digested further along in the digestive tract.

    Saliva also carries out a vital role in oral health. It helps to wash away food particles and debris from the teeth, gums, and tongue, reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Moreover, saliva contains antimicrobial properties that help to inhibit the growth of bacteria in the mouth and prevent infections.

    Furthermore, saliva aids in speech and swallowing. It moistens the mouth and throat, making it easier to chew, swallow, and speak. It also plays a role in the sense of taste, as it helps dissolve and carry food particles to the taste buds on the tongue.

    In summary, saliva is a fluid produced by the salivary glands that performs several essential functions, including lubrication, digestion, oral hygiene, and facilitating speech and swallowing.

  2. • Salivary.
    • Spittle; a clear, tasteless, odorless, slightly alkaline, viscid fluid, consisting of the secretion from the parotid, sublingual, and submaxillary salivary glands and the mucous glands of the oral cavity; its function is to keep the mucous membrane of the mouth moist, to lubricate the food during mastication, and, in a measure, to convert starch into maltose, the latter action being effected by a diastatic enzyme, ptyalin.

    A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

  3. The frothy fluid which gathers in the mouth-discharged from the mouth, it is called spittle.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for SALIVA *

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Other Common Misspellings for SALIVA

Etymology of SALIVA

The word "saliva" originates from the Late Latin word "saliva", which is derived from the Latin word "salvus" meaning "healthy" or "whole". "Saliva" is also related to the Latin verb "salvare", meaning "to save" or "to heal", as saliva was considered to have healing properties in ancient medicine.

Similar spelling words for SALIVA

Plural form of SALIVA is SALIVAS

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