sebum

[ see-buhm ]

/ ˈsi bəm /

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noun Physiology.

the fatty secretion of the sebaceous glands.

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Origin of sebum

First recorded in 1700–10, sebum is from the Latin word sēbum tallow, grease

Words nearby sebum

sebiferous, Seboim, seborrhea, seborrhoea, SEbS, sebum, sec, sec-1, SECAM, secant, secateurs

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sebum in a sentence

Generally, your skin does a good job shedding sebum and dead cells.
Mask up without breaking out. Here’s how to prevent pandemic acne.|Sandra Gutierrez G.|December 3, 2020|Popular-Science

British Dictionary definitions for sebum

sebum

/ (ˈsiːbəm) /

noun

the oily secretion of the sebaceous glands that acts as a lubricant for the hair and skin and provides some protection against bacteria

Word Origin for sebum

C19: from New Latin, from Latin: tallow

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

Scientific definitions for sebum

sebum

[ sē′bəm ]

The fatty substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of mammals that protects and lubricates the skin and hair.