secrete

¹

[ si-kreet ]

verb (used with object)

, se·cret·ed, se·cret·ing.

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

secrete

²

[ si-kreet ]

verb (used with object)

, se·cret·ed, se·cret·ing.

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

   squirrels secreting nuts in a hollow tree trunk.

   Synonyms: disguise, shroud, cover

secrète

³

[ suh-kret ]

noun

, Armor.

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

secrete

¹

/ sɪˈkriːt /

verb

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

secrete

²

/ sɪˈkriːt /

verb

1. tr to put in a hiding place

secrete

/ sĭ-krēt′ /

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.

Derived Forms

• seˈcretor, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of secrete¹

First recorded in 1700–10; back formation from secretion

Origin of secrete²

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

Origin of secrete³

From French; secret

Word History and Origins

Origin of secrete¹

C18: back formation from secretion

Origin of secrete²

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

Synonym Study

See hide ¹.

Example Sentences

"Normally, microglia are looking for things like viruses or injury and secreting substances that block off the damage," she said.

From Science Daily

Once an ant detects a food source, it secretes a chemical trail to lead other ants to the source.

From Science Daily

These are tiny bubbles of lipids that are secreted by cells of the body and that can ultimately enter the bloodstream.

From Science Daily

Until now, these inflammasome proteins were only known to spontaneously assemble within immune cells to secrete soluble chemicals to alert other parts of the immune system upon detection of an infection.

From Science Daily

The study, recently published in Nature Communications, revealed that ferns and flowering plants independently evolved nectaries, specialized structures that secrete sugary rewards to attract ant bodyguards, around the same time in the Cretaceous period.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• stash
• stow