Dictionary.com
definitions

lactescent

[lak-tes-uh nt]
See more synonyms for lactescent on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. becoming or being milky.
  2. Botany, Entomology. secreting or producing a milky juice.

Origin of lactescent

1660–70; < Latin lactēscent- (stem of lactēscēns), present participle of lactēscere to turn into milk, produce milk. See lact-, -escent
Related formslac·tes·cence, lac·tes·cen·cy, nounnon·lac·tes·cent, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for lactescent

pearly, opaque, frosted, opalescent, alabaster, clouded, lacteal, lacteous, lactescent, milk-white, opaline, whitish

Examples from the Web for lactescent

Historical Examples of lactescent

British Dictionary definitions for lactescent

lactescent

adjective
  1. (of plants and certain insects) secreting a milky fluid
  2. milky or becoming milky
Derived Formslactescence, noun

Word Origin for lactescent

C18: from Latin lactescēns, from lactescēre to become milky, from lact-, lac milk
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
lactescent in Medicine

lactescent

[lăk-tĕs′ənt]
adj.
  1. Becoming milky.
  2. Milky.
  3. Secreting or yielding a milky juice, as certain plants and insects.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.