secretion

American  

[si-kree-shuhn] / sɪˈkri ʃən /

noun

secretions plural

1. (in a cell or gland) the act or process of separating, elaborating, and releasing a substance that fulfills some function within the organism or undergoes excretion.

2. the product of this act or process.

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secretion British  

/ sɪˈkriːʃən /

noun

1. a substance that is released from a cell, esp a glandular cell, and is synthesized in the cell

2. the process involved in producing and releasing such a substance from the cell

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secretion Scientific  

/ sĭ-krē′shən /

1. The process of secreting a substance from a cell or gland.

2. A substance, such as saliva, mucus, tears, bile, or a hormone, that is secreted.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonsecretion
  noun
• oversecretion
  noun
• supersecretion
  noun
• nonsecretionary
  adjective
• secretionary
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• secretions
  plural

Etymology

Origin of secretion

1640–50; < Latin sēcrētiōn- (stem of sēcrētiō ), equivalent to sēcrēt ( us ) (past participle of sēcernere to secern ) + -iōn- -ion

Explanation

A secretion is a substance made and released by a living thing, like when your skin sweats. Secretions don't have to do with secrets, but with secreting: synthesizing and then producing a substance. A machine can't make a secretion — only living things can. Many secretions are harmless, while others are dangerous to other animals. For example, the secretions of some frogs are a type of poison. Some secretions stay within an animal, like the bile secreted by our livers. Saliva is another secretion. The word comes from the Latin root secretionem, "separation."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

secretion secretions

This structure, known as the type 6 secretion system, or T6SS, helps the bacteria compete with other microbes and dominate the gut.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 7, 2026

Bees, however, often coat their nests with a waxy secretion that creates a waterproof, polished interior.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 2026

The study appears in Science Advances under the title "A long-term ketogenic diet causes hyperlipidemia, liver dysfunction, and glucose intolerance from impaired insulin secretion in mice."

From Science Daily ● Jan. 27, 2026

Novo’s cautious C-suite was ready to target Type 2 diabetes—an obvious choice, as GLP-1 augments insulin secretion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025

The decanted infant howls; at once a nurse appears with a bottle of external secretion.

From "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley

It now states that Andes hantavirus spread is usually limited to people in prolonged direct physical contact, in close or enclosed spaces, or exposed to body fluids or respiratory secretions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026

The devastating viral infection, carried by wild birds, spreads primarily through respiratory secretions and bird-to-bird contact and can also be contracted by mammals that ingest birds or other products.

From BBC ● Dec. 25, 2024

Shahriar said tests showed EV25 lowered secretions of pro-inflammatory markers and protected against virus-induced damage to lungs better than current therapies.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 19, 2024

Since the virus has been found in nasal secretions in early infection, it's possible the water tanks for the herds' drinking water could be a source of infection.

From Salon ● May 13, 2024

Lichens, the rocks’ first covering, aided the process of disintegration by their acid secretions and made a lodging place for other life.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Related Words

• bile
• mucus
• saliva