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

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Etymology

Origin of secretion

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

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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

Instead of remaining constantly high, aldosterone showed repeated bursts of secretion at night while the overall day-night rhythm of hormone activity remained intact.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

The researchers believe ruptoblasts intensify their normal secretion systems so they can release toxic substances suddenly and violently after encountering activin.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 5, 2026

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

From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 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

Perhaps the most immediately useful result of this exploration of insect secretion is the development of lures, or attractants.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Based on a review of existing scientific literature, the researchers found no previous reports of the same BFAs occurring in mammalian excretions or secretions.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2026

It was a tale about organic matter, the sound and smell of silk, wool and cotton, their inevitable decay a result of skin secretions, chemicals, light and time.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 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

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

The leech's tiny teeth bite into the vein, and its secretions start to flow.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

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Related Words

• bile
• mucus
• saliva

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