se·cre·tion | \ si-ˈkrē-shən 
\
\Definition of secretion
1a : the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing some material either functionally specialized (such as saliva) or isolated for excretion (such as urine)
b : a product of secretion formed by an animal or plant especially : one performing a specific useful function in the organism
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Other Words from secretion
secretionary \ si-ˈkrē-shə-ˌner-ē \ adjective
\ adjective
Examples of secretion in a Sentence
the secretion of stomach acids
root secretions that repel insects
Recent Examples on the Web Beauchene was charged with one count each of delay, secretion, or detention of mail and of obstruction of mail.
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Stephanie Pagones, Fox News, "New Jersey postal worker dumped 1,800+ pieces of mail, including election ballots," 7 Oct. 2020 Royal jelly is a secretion made by nurse bees that is meant to feed queen bees and larvae.
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Shaena Montanari, The Arizona Republic, "Want to be a backyard beekeeper in Phoenix? Here's where to learn how to handle the hives," 22 Sep. 2020 The nervous system, through its ability to affect gut transit time and mucus secretion, can help dictate which microbes inhabit the gut.
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Justin Sonnenburg, Scientific American, "Gut Feelings–the "Second Brain" in Our Gastrointestinal Systems [Excerpt]," 1 May 2015 Although no definitive cause has been identified, a yeast (fungus) called malassezia that is in the oil secretion on the skin seems to be the most likely culprit.
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Mona Gohara, Good Housekeeping, "7 Scalp Conditions That Cause Bumps or Spots — And How to Treat Them," 27 Aug. 2020 Pollen, various oils, and propolis, a bee secretion, are impurities to watch out for.
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Anthony Marcusa, chicagotribune.com, "The best cosmetic beeswax," 12 Aug. 2020 But they were thought to have been hunted to extinction in the 17th century for their meat, their castoreum — a secretion used in medicine and perfumes — and, above all, their fur.
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Karla Adam, Washington Post, "After an absence of 400 years, beavers can return to the wild in England," 7 Aug. 2020 The autonomic nervous system is tasked with the job of regulating the speed at which food transits through the gut, the secretion of acid in our stomach, and the production of mucus on the intestinal lining.
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Justin Sonnenburg, Scientific American, "Gut Feelings–the "Second Brain" in Our Gastrointestinal Systems [Excerpt]," 1 May 2015 Estrogen suppresses ovulation by inhibiting the secretion of hormones that are responsible for kickstarting a chain of reproductive events.
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Emily Abbate, SELF, "Is Stopping Birth Control for a Little While a Good Idea?," 16 Apr. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'secretion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for secretion
secretion
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of secretion
biology
: the production of a liquid by part of a plant or animal
: a substance produced and given off by a plant or animal part
See the full definition for secretion in the English Language Learners Dictionary
secretion
nounse·cre·tion | \ si-ˈkrē-shən \
\Kids Definition of secretion
1 : the act or process of giving off a substance
the secretion of saliva by salivary glands
2 : a substance formed in and given off by a gland that usually performs a useful function in the body
Digestive secretions contain enzymes.
secretion
nounse·cre·tion | \ si-ˈkrē-shən \
\Medical Definition of secretion
1 : the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing some material either functionally specialized (as saliva) or isolated for excretion (as urine)
2 : a product of secretion formed by an animal or plant especially : one performing a specific useful function in the organism
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Time Traveler for secretion
The first known use of secretion was in 1646
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