secrète

¹

[suh-kret]

noun

Armor.

1. a steel skullcap of the 17th century, worn under a soft hat.

secrete

²

[si-kreet]

verb (used with object)

secreted, secreting 

1. to place out of sight; hide; conceal.

   squirrels secreting nuts in a hollow tree trunk.

   Synonyms: disguise, shroud, cover

secrete

³

[si-kreet]

verb (used with object)

secreted, secreting 

1. to discharge, generate, or release by the process of secretion.

secrete

¹

/ sɪˈkriːt /

verb

1. (tr) to put in a hiding place

secrete

²

/ sɪˈkriːt /

verb

1. (of a cell, organ, etc) to synthesize and release (a secretion)

secrete

1. To produce and discharge a substance, especially from the cells of specialized glands. For example, the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas secrete the hormone insulin.

Other Word Forms

• secretor noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of secrète¹

From French; secret

Origin of secrète²

1735–45; alteration of obsolete secret, verb use of secret

Origin of secrète³

First recorded in 1700–10; back formation from secretion

Word History and Origins

Origin of secrète¹

C18: variant of obsolete secret to hide away; see _secret (n)

Origin of secrète²

C18: back formation from _secretion

Synonym Study

See hide ¹.

Related Words

• stash 
• stow