sputum
[ spyoo-tuh m ]
/ ˈspyu təm /
noun, plural spu·ta [spyoo-tuh] /ˈspyu tə/.
matter, as saliva mixed with mucus or pus, expectorated from the lungs and respiratory passages.
Origin of sputum
1685–95; < Latin
spūtum, noun use of neuter of
spūtus, past participle of
spuere to spit, equivalent to
spū- variant stem +
-tus past participle suffix
Words nearby sputum
spurtle,
sputnik,
sputniks,
sputter,
sputtering,
sputum,
spuyten duyvil creek,
spy,
spy on,
spy out,
spy wednesday
Example sentences from the Web for sputum
British Dictionary definitions for sputum
sputum
/ (ˈspjuːtəm) /
noun plural -ta (-tə)
a mass of salivary matter ejected from the mouth
saliva ejected from the mouth mixed with mucus or pus exuded from the respiratory passages, as in bronchitis or bronchiectasis
Word Origin for sputum
C17: from Latin: spittle, from
spuere to spit out
Medical definitions for sputum
sputum
[ spyōō′təm ]
n. pl. spu•ta (-tə)
Matter coughed up and usually expelled from the mouth, especially mucus or mucopurulent matter expectorated in diseases of the air passages.