intransitive verb sweat or sweated sweat′ed, sweating sweat′·ing

1. to give forth a characteristic salty moisture through the pores of the skin; perspire
2. 1. to give forth moisture in droplets on its surface, as a ripening cheese does
   2. to collect and condense water in droplets on its surface, as a glass of ice water does in a warm room
3. to ferment: said of tobacco leaves, etc.
4. to come forth in drops through pores or a porous surface; ooze
5. to work hard enough to cause sweating
6. Informal to suffer distress, anxiety, etc.

Etymology: ME sweten < OE swætan < swat, sweat, akin to Ger schweissen < IE base *sweid-, to sweat > Gr hidros, L sudor, sweat

transitive verb

1. 1. to give forth (moisture) through pores or a porous surface
   2. to collect and condense (moisture) on the surface
2. to cause to sweat, or perspire, as by drugs, exercise, heat, etc.
3. to cause to give forth moisture; esp., to ferment to sweat tobacco leaves
4. to make wet with sweat, or perspiration
5. to heat (a metal) in order to extract an easily fusible constituent
6. 1. to heat (solder) until it melts
   2. to unite (metal parts) by heating at the point of contact
7. to remove particles of metal from (a coin) illegally, as by abrading
8. 1. to cause to work so hard as to sweat; overwork
   2. to cause (employees) to work long hours at low wages under poor working conditions; exploit (workers)
9. ☆ Informal
   1. to get information from by torture or by long, grueling questioning; subject to the third degree
   2. to get (information) in this way
10. Slang to try hard or too hard to get or achieve

noun

1. the clear, alkaline, salty liquid given forth in drops through the pores of the skin; perspiration
2. moisture given forth or collected in droplets on the surface of something
3. 1. the act or condition of sweating or being sweated
   2. an artificially induced sweating
4. a condition of eagerness, anxiety, impatience, etc.
5. hard work; drudgery
6. exercise, as a run, given a horse before a race
7. clothes worn for exercising, warming up, etc.; specif., a sweat suit

Etymology: altered < the v. < ME swat < OE