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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

perspiration en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˌpɜːspəˈɹeɪʃən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Canada) audio
  • /ˌpɝspəˈɹeɪʃən/ (General-American)

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.

Meanings

  1. (uncountable, usually) The action or process of perspiring.
    • 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. 1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva Sylvarum: or, A Naturall Historie, London: W. Lee, Cent. VII, section 680, page 170
  2. (metonymically, uncountable, usually) Synonym of hard work.
    • Genius is 1 per cent. inspiration and 99 per cent. perspiration. 1910, Frank Lewis Dyer, Thomas Commerford Martin, quoting Thomas Edison, Edison: His Life and Inventions, volume II, New York: Harper & Brothers, page 607:
  3. (uncountable, usually) Sweat (fluid).
    • Passing his hand across his forehead he withdrew it, wet with drops of perspiration. 1897, Marie Corelli, “Chapter II”, in Ziska: The Problem of a Wicked Soul, New York: Stone & Kimball, page 58:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
perspirations Number=Plur lexicographic

Coordinates

inspiration

Deriveds

genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration

Relateds

perspire · transpiration

Synonyms

sudoresis · hard work · sweating · diaphoresis · sudation · hidrosis

Translations (44)

fr transpiration (process of perspiring) · pt suor (process of perspiring) · ba тирләү (process of perspiring) · pl perspiracja (process of perspiring) · gl transpiración (process of perspiring) · hy քրտնում (process of perspiring) · de Schwitzen (process of perspiring) · bg потене (process of perspiring) · nn transpirasjon (process of perspiring) · cs perspirace (process of perspiring) · fi hikoilu (process of perspiring) · ja 汗 (process of perspiring) · ar عَرَق (process of perspiring) · pdt Schweet (process of perspiring) · ko 땀 (process of perspiring) · la perspīrātiō (process of perspiring) · cmn 流汗 (process of perspiring) · fi hikoileminen (process of perspiring) · cs pocení (process of perspiring) · km ញើស (process of perspiring) · bg изпотяване (process of perspiring) · es transpiración (process of perspiring) · fr perspiration (process of perspiring) · sv svett (process of perspiring) · el εφίδρωση (process of perspiring) · la sudor (process of perspiring) · nl perspiratio (process of perspiring) · hu verítékezés (process of perspiring) · hy քրտնարտադրություն (process of perspiring) · mn хөлс (process of perspiring) · nl zweet (process of perspiring) · eo ŝvitado (process of perspiring) · ru поте́ние (process of perspiring) · de Perspiration (process of perspiring) · pl pocenie się (process of perspiring) · pt perspiração (process of perspiring) · it sudore (process of perspiring) · sv svettning (process of perspiring) · pt transpiração (process of perspiring) · cmn 汗 (process of perspiring) · nb transpirasjon (process of perspiring) · es sudoración (process of perspiring) · vi đổ mồ hôi (process of perspiring) · hu izzadás (process of perspiring)