noun. A form of amylase in the saliva of humans and some animals that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch into maltose and dextrin.

noun. The peculiar principle of saliva, believed to be a proteid body, which acts as a ferment on starch, rapidly converting it into dextrose.

noun. An unorganized amylolytic ferment, on enzyme, present in human mixed saliva and in the saliva of some animals.

noun. A form of amylase found in saliva that breaks down starch into maltose and dextrin.

noun. an amylase secreted in saliva

"As the sign put it at the booth for Dogfish Head -- Delaware's ever-experimental and envelope-pushing brewery -- Chicha is "a traditional Peruvian corn beer brewed with molle tree seeds, strawberries, and organic purple corn that we chewed to allow the ptyalin enzyme in our saliva [to] convert starch into sugar pre-boil.""

amylase