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holocrine

[hol-uh-krin, -krahyn, hoh-luh-]
adjective
  1. (of a gland) releasing a secretion that is a product of disintegrating cells.
  2. (of a secretion) released by such a gland.
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Origin of holocrine

1900–05; holo- + -crine < Greek krī́nein to separate
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for holocrine

holocrine

adjective
  1. (of the secretion of glands) characterized by disintegration of the entire glandular cell in releasing its product, as in sebaceous glandsCompare merocrine, apocrine
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Word Origin

C20: from holo- + Greek krinein to separate, decide
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
holocrine in Medicine

holocrine

(hŏl′ə-krĭn, -krīn′, -krēn′, hō′lə-)
adj.
  1. Of or relating to a gland whose output consists of disintegrated secretory cells along with the secretory product itself.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.