Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To produce an excessive flow of saliva: The physical act of secreting saliva, often involuntarily, especially in response to the sight, smell, or thought of food.
   • To show great desire or eagerness: To react with intense anticipation or longing for something, often in a way that is obvious or excessive.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause to salivate: To induce the production of saliva, typically used in medical or physiological contexts.

Usage Examples

• Verb (intransitive):

  • The delicious aroma from the bakery made him salivate. (The smell of food triggered a physical production of saliva.)
  • Investors are salivating at the prospect of huge profits. (They are showing intense eagerness and desire for financial gain.)

• Verb (transitive):

  • The medication can salivate the patient as a side effect. (The drug causes the patient to produce saliva.)

Advanced Usage

• "salivate over": To desire or long for something intensely, often while thinking or talking about it.
  • The collectors salivated over the rare painting at the auction. (They showed extreme eagerness and desire for the painting.)

Variants and Related Words

• Salivation (n): The process of secreting saliva.

  • The thought of lemon causes salivation in many people.

• Salivary (adj): Relating to or producing saliva.

  • The salivary glands are responsible for producing saliva.

Synonyms

• Drool: To let saliva flow from the mouth, often implying a lack of control or simple desire.
• Covet: To desire wrongfully or eagerly wish for, often used for the figurative sense of intense longing.
• Yearn: To have a strong, often melancholic desire.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Salivate at/over: To show excessive eagerness for something. This is the primary construction for the figurative meaning.
  • The team is salivating at the chance to compete in the finals.

Related Idioms

• "Make one's mouth water": To cause someone to salivate or desire something greatly. This idiom is a close synonym for the literal and figurative causes of salivating.
  • The dessert menu made her mouth water.

Verb

1. be envious, desirous, eager for, or extremely happy about something
   • She was salivating over the raise she anticipated
2. produce saliva
   • We salivated when he described the great meal