secretion

se·cre·tion

noun \si-ˈkrē-shən\

Definition of SECRETION

1

a : the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing some material either functionally specialized (as saliva) or isolated for excretion (as urine) b : a product of secretion formed by an animal or plant; especially : one performing a specific useful function in the organism

2

[²secrete] : the act of hiding something : concealment

— se·cre·tion·ary \-shə-ˌner-ē\ adjective

Examples of SECRETION

1. the secretion of stomach acids
2. root secretions that repel insects

Origin of SECRETION

French sécrétion, from Latin secretion-, secretio separation, from secernere to separate — more at secret

First Known Use: 1646

Related to SECRETION

Synonyms: caching, hiding, concealment, stashing

Antonyms: display, exhibition, exposure, parading, showing

Related Words: burial, burying, entombment, interment, interring

Near Antonyms: disinterment, unearthing

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Rhymes with SECRETION

accretion, Capetian, completion, concretion, deletion, depletion, excretion, Helvetian, Lucretian, Ossetian, Phoenician, repletion, suppletion, Tahitian, Venetian