lactation

[lak-tey-shuhn]

noun

1. the secretion or formation of milk.

2. the period of milk production.

lactation

/ lækˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. the secretion of milk from the mammary glands after parturition

2. the period during which milk is secreted

lactation

1. The secretion or production of milk by the mammary glands in female mammals after giving birth.

Other Word Forms

• lactationally adverb
• lactational adjective
• hyperlactation noun
• overlactation noun
• superlactation noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of lactation¹

1660–70; < Late Latin lactātiōn- (stem of lactātiō ) a giving suck. See lactate ¹, -ion

Example Sentences

In addition to the new family TSA lane, airport officials also unveiled a new lactation pod in the Terminal C baggage claim area to provide mothers with a place to nurse in private.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She hired a lactation consultant, who would weigh the baby before and after a feeding to make sure she was getting enough milk — a cumbersome process that required she have a tiny scale at home.

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“Women live longer, they experience different things like pregnancy and lactation, menstruation and menopause, and they have different disease risks,” said Dr. McKale Montgomery, a nutritionist at Oklahoma State University.

Read more on Salon

However, the pandemic also presented significant barriers, including limited access to lactation support and heightened maternal stress.

Read more on Science Daily

Of bigger concern is the outstanding question of whether infected cows will rebound in their next lactation cycle — after they’ve had time to “dry out” and heal.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• suction