lactate
1 Americanverb (used without object)
noun
noun
verb
Etymology
Origin of lactate1
1885–90; < Latin lactātus, past participle of lactāre to suckle. See lact-, -ate 1
Origin of lactate2
First recorded in 1785–95; lact(ic acid) + -ate 2
Explanation
To lactate is to produce milk for feeding babies. All female mammals who give birth lactate. A mother cow has to lactate in order to feed her calves, and so that she can be milked by a farmer too. Mothers who nurse their babies lactate, whether they're humans, cats, goats, or skunks. Lactation, "the secretion of milk," came first, from the Late Latin lactationem, "a suckling," from the root lac, "milk."
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.
Despite exercising longer and burning more energy overall, participants showed similar heart-rate and lactate levels at the end of both tests.
From Science Daily • May 9, 2026
He tailors his training to meet a targeted exertional threshold and monitors his lactate levels with pinprick blood tests.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 11, 2025
The study tracked the heart rate, oxygen uptake and blood lactate levels of professional drummers in rehearsals and during live shows, the outlet said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2025
Precisely when in prehistory mammals began to lactate, no one yet knows.
From Slate • Aug. 13, 2024
Iron acetate or lactate is somewhat less objectionable, but probably the same effects may be obtained with aniline colours without risk to the leather.”
From Bookbinding, and the Care of Books A handbook for Amateurs, Bookbinders & Librarians by Rooke, Noel
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.
