secretion

noun se·cre·tion \ si-ˈkrē-shən \

Updated on: 11 Sep 2017

Definition of secretion

1 a :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

[²secrete]

:the act of hiding something :concealment

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secretionary

play \si-ˈkrē-shə-ˌner-ē\ adjective

See secretion defined for English-language learners

See secretion defined for kids

Examples of secretion in a Sentence

the secretion of stomach acids
root secretions that repel insects

Recent Examples of secretion from the Web

Bacterial and viral infections such as chlamydia, syphilis, HPV, and herpes, to name a few common ones, are transmitted via contact with infected fluids: genital secretions, semen, and blood.

— jenelle marie pierce, Allure, "The Truth About Whether You Can Get an STI From a Toilet Seat," 17 Aug. 2017
On the flip side, part of the immune system's response to any viral infection, like a flu or cold, is to make the blood vessels more permeable, leading to an increase in all secretions containing white blood cells.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "How Your Vagina Changes When You Get Sick," 10 Aug. 2017
The heady secretion from the musk deer has long been a coveted ingredient, driving the species to near-extinction.

— laura regensdorf, Vogue, "A New Berkeley Museum Explores the Secret World of Natural Perfume," 11 July 2017
Ambergris, for the uninitiated, is a waxy secretion from the bile duct of a whale, the result of indigestible matter like eel beaks.

— rachel syme, New York Times, "5 Ways to Smell Like the Beach," 10 July 2017
One of the most alluring aspects of perfume is the use of animal scents, most of which are derived from not terribly alluring-sounding elements like excrement or perineal secretions.

— deborah needleman, New York Times, "A Little Cottage Where You Can Smell the Natural History of Perfume," 7 July 2017
After years of frustration, Stockholm University professor Catarina Rydin and her student Kristina Bolinder realized that E. foeminea times the secretion of its pollination drops to July’s full moon.

— National Geographic, "Sex, Death, and Pollination: How the Moon Changes Life on Earth," 6 July 2017
The tubes lure insects with sweet secretions, but once the creatures lose their footing and fall into the tube, enzymes consume them.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "These stunning plants all have one thing in common: A taste for blood," 3 July 2017
The secretions flush out cells from the vaginal wall, excess water, and bacteria.

— zoe ruderman, Cosmopolitan, "22 Vital Facts You Need to Know About Your Vagina," 19 June 2017

These 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.

Origin and Etymology of secretion

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

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First Known Use: 1646

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secretion Synonyms

Synonyms

caching, hiding, concealment, stashing

Antonyms

display, exhibition, exposure, parading, showing

Related Words

burial, burying, entombment, interment, interring

Near Antonyms

disinterment, unearthing

SECRETION Defined for English Language Learners

secretion

noun

Definition of secretion for English Language Learners

: the production of a liquid by part of a plant or animal
: a substance produced and given off by a plant or animal part

SECRETION Defined for Kids

secretion

noun se·cre·tion \ si-ˈkrē-shən \

Definition of secretion for Students

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.

Medical Dictionary

secretion

noun se·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