secrete
secrete Lexical Profile
secrete Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To produce and discharge a functional substance such as a hormone, enzyme, or mucus (of a cell, gland, or organ).
"The pancreas secretes insulin directly into the bloodstream to regulate blood sugar levels."
To conceal or hide an object in a private or unsuspected place.
"The courier managed to secrete the confidential documents inside the lining of his coat."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse the biological sense of 'secrete' (producing a useful substance like hormones, mucus, or saliva) with 'excrete' (expelling waste products like urine or sweat).
• Rhymes for secrete
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Ultimately derived from the Latin verb secernere ('to separate, set apart'), formed from se- ('apart') and cernere ('to sift'). The physiological sense arose in the early 18th century as a back-formation from 'secretion', while the sense of hiding something evolved directly from the noun 'secret'.