perspiration

views updated Jun 11 2018

per·spi·ra·tion / ˌpərspəˈrāshən/ • n. the process of sweating: it causes perspiration and a rapid heartbeat. ∎ sweat: perspiration ran down his forehead.DERIVATIVES: per·spir·a·to·ry / pərˈspīrəˌtôrē/ adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

perspiration

views updated Jun 11 2018

perspiration Evaporation of water from the skin surface, without the active secretion of sweat. This insensible perspiration is continuous and inevitable unless the environment is very humid, and in typical temperate zones it accounts for a loss of 300–400 ml daily in the average adult. Colloquially, the word perspiration is used euphemistically to avoid the smellier implications of sweat.

Stuart Judge

See body fluids; sweating.

The Oxford Companion to the Body COLIN BLAKEMORE and SHELIA JENNETT

perspiration

views updated May 23 2018

perspiration †breathing through; †evaporation, exhalation; excretion of moisture through the pores. XVII. — F., f. perspirer — L. perspirāre (whence perspire vb. XVII); see PER-, SPIRIT, -ATION.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

perspiration

views updated Jun 11 2018

perspiration (per-sper-ay-shŏn) n. sweat or the process of sweating. insensible p. sweat that evaporates immediately from the skin and is therefore not visible. sensible p. sweat that is visible on the skin in the form of drops.

A Dictionary of Nursing