Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Salivate
Sal′i-vate
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Salivated
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Salivating
.] To produce an abnormal flow of saliva in; to produce salivation or ptyalism in, as by the use of mercury.
v. i. To produce saliva, esp. in excess.
2. To drool. 3. (Fig.) To anticipate keenly with pleasure, as though salivating at the expectation of a delicious meal. Used often with over.; as, salivate over
the prospects of high profits from an enterprise.Probably influenced by the experiments of Pavlov, who trained dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell, by previously ringing the bell immediately prior to feeding them.
–>Webster 1828 Edition
Salivate
SAL'IVATE
,Verb.
T.
To excite an unusual secretion and discharge of saliva in a person, usually by mercury; to produce ptyalism in a person. Physicians salivate their patients in diseases of the glands, of the liver, in the venereal disease, in yellow fever, &c.
Definition 2024
salivate
salivate
English
Verb
salivate (third-person singular simple present salivates, present participle salivating, simple past and past participle salivated)
- (intransitive) To produce saliva.
- (intransitive) To show eager anticipation at the expectation of something.
- He's been salivating over the latest model sports car for awhile now.
Related terms
Translations
to produce saliva
to show eager anticipation
See also
Anagrams
Italian
Verb
salivate
- second-person plural imperfect of salire
- second-person plural present of salivare
- second-person plural imperative of salivare