noun
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the act of exuding or oozing out
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Also called: exudate. a fluid with a high content of protein in a body cavity Compare transudate
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exudation
1605–15; < Late Latin ex ( s ) ūdātiōn- (stem of ex ( s ) ūdātiō ), equivalent to ex ( s ) ūdāt ( us ) (past participle of ex ( s ) ūdāre to exude ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Those unpleasant stains around your armpits — that's an exudation, dude — the release of a bodily liquid through your skin. In general an exudation is pretty smelly stuff: sweat, oil and various other discharges we can't mention on a family site. Plants and animals create their own exudations too. Funnily enough, while the noun exudation almost always refers to a physical discharge of fluid, the verb, to exude has a far more figurative meaning. Sure, you can exude bad smells or liquids, but you can also exude good will, bonhomie, love and just about any other emotion you can think of.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Exudation is more generally used when an inflammatory process is the cause of the increased transudation, while effusion is more strictly associated with causes other than inflammatory.
From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various
Retention and Exudation Cysts.—Retention cysts develop when the duct of a secreting gland is partly obstructed; the secretion accumulates, and the gland and its duct become distended into a cyst.
From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis
Exudation cysts arise from the distension of cavities which are not provided with excretory ducts, such as those in the thyreoid.
From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis
In the course of the next few days a new symptom was added to this group: Exudation, which was demonstrable both by palpation and percussion.
From Appendicitis by Tilden, John Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
