salivate
verbUK /ˈsælɪveɪt/ · US /ˈsæləveɪt/
Etymology From Latin salivatus, past participle of salivare (“to spit out, also salivate”), from saliva (“spittle”).
1
To produce saliva.
2
Figuratively To show eager anticipation at the expectation of something.
- He's been salivating over the latest model sports car for a while now.
- Derived terms
- desalivate, hypersalivate, salivatingly, salivator, unsalivated
- Related terms
- saliva, salivary, salivation, drool