secretion
secretion Lexical Profile
secretion Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A process by which substances are produced and discharged from a cell, gland, or organ for a particular function in the organism or for excretion.
"The consumption of food immediately stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes in the stomach."
A specific fluid or substance produced and discharged by a cell, gland, or organ.
"The frog's skin is coated in a slippery secretion that protects it from predators and infection."
The action or practice of concealing or hiding something from view.
"The deliberate secretion of assets during bankruptcy proceedings is a serious legal offense."
Word Nuance & Usage
In biology, 'secretion' refers to substances produced and released to perform a useful physiological function (such as hormones, enzymes, or saliva), whereas 'excretion' refers to the elimination of metabolic waste products from the body.
• Rhymes for secretion
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed from French sécrétion or directly from Latin secretio ('a dividing, separation'), derived from the verb secernere ('to separate, set apart'), from se- ('apart') and cernere ('to sift').