salivate

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈsæləveɪt/ UK /ˈsælɪveɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #74524

Meanings

1

verb
To produce saliva in your mouth, especially at the thought or smell of food.

The smell of fresh bread made everyone start to salivate.
2

verb
To show eager excitement about something you really want.

Fans have been salivating over the new smartphone for weeks.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 verb · to show eager excitement... drool

Word family

Forms salivatedsalivatessalivating

Derived forms desalivatehypersalivatesalivatinglysalivatorunsalivated

Related forms drool saliva salivarysalivation

Etymology

From Latin salivatus, past participle of salivare (“to spit out, also salivate”), from saliva (“spittle”).

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# salivate

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈsæləveɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsælɪveɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 74524

## Meanings
1. To produce saliva in your mouth, especially at the thought or smell of food.
2. To show eager excitement about something you really want.

## Examples
- The smell of fresh bread made everyone start to salivate.
- Fans have been salivating over the new smartphone for weeks.

## Derived Forms
- desalivate
- hypersalivate
- salivatingly
- salivator
- unsalivated

## Related Forms
- drool
- saliva
- salivary
- salivation

## Etymology
From Latin salivatus, past participle of salivare (“to spit out, also salivate”), from saliva (“spittle”).

## AI Etymology
Salivate is from Latin salivatus, past participle of salivare (“to spit out, also salivate”), from saliva (“spittle”). In present-day use, it can mean to produce saliva in your mouth, especially at the thought or smell of food, or to show eager excitement about something you really want. Derived formations include desalivate, hypersalivate, salivatingly, salivator, and unsalivated.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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