Perspiration
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The action or process of perspiring. uncountable, usually
"The Cauſe may be Want of Perſpiration : For Much of the Matter of Haire, in the other Parts of the Body, goeth forth by Inſenſible Perſpiration ; And beſides, the Skull being of a more ſolide Subſtance, nouriſheth and aſſimilateth leſſe, and excerneth more."
- 2 salty fluid secreted by sweat glands wordnet
- 3 Synonym of hard work. metonymically, uncountable, usually
"Genius is 1 per cent. inspiration and 99 per cent. perspiration."
- 4 the process of the sweat glands of the skin secreting a salty fluid wordnet
- 5 Sweat (fluid). uncountable, usually
"Passing his hand across his forehead he withdrew it, wet with drops of perspiration."
Example
More examples"We were all drenched with perspiration."
Etymology
Borrowed from late Middle French perspiration, from perspirer (“perspire”), from Latin perspirare (“to blow or breathe constantly”), from per (“through”) + spirare (“to breathe, blow”). Morphologically perspire + -ation.
Related phrases
More for "perspiration"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.