sweat
n
1 the secretion from the sweat glands, esp. when profuse and visible, as during strenuous activity, from excessive heat, etc.; perspiration
Related adjs →
sudatory →
sudorific
2 the act or process of secreting this fluid
3 the act of inducing the exudation of moisture
4 drops of moisture given forth or gathered on the surface of something
5 Informal a state or condition of worry or eagerness (esp. in the phrase in a sweat)
6 Slang drudgery or hard labour
mowing lawns is a real sweat!
7 (Chiefly U.S.) an exercise gallop given to a horse, esp. on the day of a race
8 Slang (chiefly Brit) a soldier, esp. one who is old and experienced
9 ♦
no sweat! interj
Slang an expression suggesting that something can be done without problems or difficulty
vb , sweats, sweating, sweat, sweated
10 to secrete (sweat) through the pores of the skin, esp. profusely; perspire
11 tr to make wet or stain with perspiration
12 to give forth or cause to give forth (moisture) in droplets
a sweating cheese, the maple sweats sap
13 intr to collect and condense moisture on an outer surface
a glass of beer sweating in the sun
14 intr (of a liquid) to pass through a porous surface in droplets
15 (of tobacco leaves, cut and dried hay, etc.) to exude moisture and, sometimes, begin to ferment or to cause (tobacco leaves, etc.) to exude moisture
16 tr to heat (food, esp. vegetables) slowly in butter in a tightly closed saucepan
17 tr to join (pieces of metal) by pressing together and heating
18 tr to heat (solder) until it melts
19 tr to heat (a partially fused metal) to extract an easily fusible constituent
20 to shake together (coins, esp. gold coins) so as to remove particles for illegal use
21 Informal to suffer anxiety, impatience, or distress
22 Informal to overwork or be overworked
23 tr
Informal to employ at very low wages and under bad conditions
24 tr
Informal to extort, esp. by torture
to sweat information out of a captive
25 intr
Informal to suffer punishment
you'll sweat for this!
26 ♦
sweat blood
Informal
b to be filled with anxiety or impatience,
(See also)
→
sweat off →
sweat out (Old English swætan to sweat, from swat sweat; related to Old Saxon swet, Old Norse sveiti, Old High German sweiz, Latin sudor, Sanskrit svedas) ♦
sweatless adj
cold sweat
n
Informal a bodily reaction to fear or nervousness, characterized by chill and moist skin
old sweat
n (Brit)
informal
1 an old soldier; veteran
2 a person who has a great deal of experience in some activity
sweat gland
n any of the coiled tubular subcutaneous glands that secrete sweat by means of a duct that opens on to the skin
sweat off , away
vb tr, adv
Informal to get rid of (weight) by strenuous exercise or sweating
sweat out
vb tr, adv
1 to cure or lessen the effects of (a cold, respiratory infection, etc.) by sweating
2 Informal to endure (hardships) for a time (often in the phrase sweat it out)
3 ♦
sweat one's guts out
Informal to work extremely hard
sweat suit
n a suit worn by athletes for training comprising knitted cotton trousers fitting closely at the ankle and a light cotton sweater