per·spi·ra·tion

[pur-spuh-rey-shuhn]
noun
1.
a salty, watery fluid secreted by the sweat glands of the skin, especially when very warm as a result of strenuous exertion; sweat.
2.
the act or process of perspiring.

Origin:
1605–15, in sense “a breathing through”; 1620–30 for current senses; < Neo-Latin perspīrātiōn- (stem of perspīrātiō) imperceptible sweating, literally, a breathing through. See perspire, -ation


1. Perspiration, sweat refer primarily to moisture exuded by animals and people from the pores of the skin. Perspiration is often regarded as the more polite word, and is often used overfastidiously by those who consider sweat coarse; but sweat is a strong word and in some cases obviously more appropriate: a light perspiration; the sweat of his brow. Sweat is always used when referring to animals or objects: Sweat drips from a horse's flanks. It may also be used metaphorically of objects: Sweat forms on apples after they are gathered.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To perspiration
00:10
Perspiration is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
a chattering or flighty, light-headed person.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.
Collins
World English Dictionary
perspiration (ˌpɜːspəˈreɪʃən) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  the act or process of insensibly eliminating fluid through the pores of the skin, which evaporates immediately
2.  the sensible elimination of fluid through the pores of the skin, which is visible as droplets on the skin
3.  the salty fluid secreted through the pores of the skin; sweat

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

perspiration
1611, from Fr. perspiration (1561), noun of action from perspirer "perspire," from L. perspirare "blow or breathe constantly," from per- "through" + spirare "to breathe, blow" (see spirit). Applied to excretion of invisible moistures through the skin (1626), hence used as
a euphemism for "sweat" from 1725.
"It is well known that for some time past, neither man, woman nor child ... has been subject to that gross kind of exudation which was formerly known by the name of sweat; ... now every mortal, except carters, coal-heavers and Irish Chairmen ... merely perspires." ["Gentleman's Magazine," 1791]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

perspiration per·spi·ra·tion (pûr'spə-rā'shən)
n.

  1. The fluid, consisting of water with small amounts of urea and salts, that is excreted through the pores of the skin by the sweat glands.

  2. The act or process of excreting this fluid through the pores of the skin.


per·spir'a·to'ry (pər-spīr'ə-tôr'ē, pûr'spər-ə-) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
Microporous membranes keep water from penetrating the fabric, yet allow perspiration to escape so you stay dry.
The saliva on a smoked cigarette or the perspiration on a baseball cap may be enough.
Water regulates the body temperature through perspiration.
Deodorant made with organic ingredients is a safe and effective way to control perspiration and eliminate body odor.
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT