Spittle: meaning, definitions and examples

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spittle

 

[ หˆspษชt(ษ™)l ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

droplets from mouth

Spittle refers to the small drops of saliva that come out of a person's mouth when they talk or spit. It is a natural bodily fluid that helps with the digestion process.

Synonyms

drool, saliva, slobber.

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Word Description / Examples
spittle

Commonly used to describe small amounts of saliva that are ejected from the mouth when someone speaks, coughs, or sneezes, often unintentionally.

  • His face was speckled with spittle after the loud argument.
  • She noticed spittle on her glasses after he sneezed.
saliva

The formal term for the watery liquid produced in the mouth to aid in chewing and digestion. It is used in scientific or medical contexts.

  • Saliva helps break down food for easier digestion.
  • The doctor took a saliva sample for the test.
drool

Often used to describe saliva that falls from the mouth in a slow, uncontrolled manner, especially when someone is sleeping, hungry, or experiencing relaxed muscles.

  • The baby began to drool as he saw the bottle of milk.
  • He woke up with drool on his pillow.
slobber

Has a somewhat negative connotation and is used to describe excessive saliva that drips or runs from the mouth, often in a messy or unappealing way.

  • The dog slobbered all over my new shoes.
  • He was so drunk that he started to slobber.

Examples of usage

  • He wiped away the spittle from his chin.
  • The child's face was covered in spittle after blowing bubbles.
Context #2 | Noun

expression of contempt

Spittle can also refer to a contemptuous expression or gesture, especially when accompanied by spitting. It is a sign of disrespect or disdain towards someone.

Synonyms

contempt, disdain, spit.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
spittle

This term refers to small amounts of saliva, often seen or described in a context where it is noticeable yet not meant to express disgust.

  • A bit of spittle gathered at the corner of his mouth as he spoke passionately
spit

Refers to the act of forcibly ejecting saliva from the mouth. This can be used in both neutral contexts, such as when clearing one's mouth, or in negative contexts to express strong feelings of disrespect or anger.

  • He had to spit out the bitter medicine
  • / In a sudden burst of anger, he spat at the ground near their feet
disdain

This word is employed to show a lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike. It usually implies a sense of superiority. This word also has a negative connotation.

  • He spoke of the competitor's work with obvious disdain
contempt

Used to express a strong feeling of disapproval or deep-seated disdain for someone or something, often with moral judgement. This term carries a negative connotation.

  • She looked at him with pure contempt after discovering his betrayal

Examples of usage

  • He responded to the insult with a spittle of contempt.
  • The crowd's reaction was a mix of cheers and spittle.

Translations

Translations of the word "spittle" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น cuspe

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฅเฅ‚เค•

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Spucke

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ ludah

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ัะปะธะฝะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ ล›lina

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ”พ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท salive

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ saliva

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท tรผkรผrรผk

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์นจ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู„ุนุงุจ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ slina

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ slina

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ”พๆถฒ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ slina

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ munnvatn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ัั–ะปะตะบะตะน

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒœแƒ”แƒ แƒฌแƒงแƒ•แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ tรผpรผrcษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ saliva

Etymology

The word 'spittle' originated from the Middle English word 'spitel', which in turn came from the Old English word 'spitu'. The use of 'spittle' to refer to saliva dates back to the 15th century. Over time, the word also took on the meaning of a contemptuous expression, reflecting the negative connotations associated with spitting as a sign of disrespect.

See also: spitball, spite, spitter.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,910, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.