excrete

[ ik-skreet ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·cret·ed, ex·cret·ing.

1. to separate and eliminate from an organic body; separate and expel from the blood or tissues, as waste or harmful matter.

excrete

/ ɪkˈskriːt /

verb

1. to discharge (waste matter, such as urine, sweat, carbon dioxide, or faeces) from the body through the kidneys, skin, lungs, bowels, etc
2. (of plants) to eliminate (waste matter, such as carbon dioxide and salts) through the leaves, roots, etc

Derived Forms

• exˈcretive, adjective
• exˈcretion, noun
• exˈcreter, noun

Other Words From

• ex·creter noun
• ex·cretive adjective
• unex·creted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of excrete¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin excrētus “sifted out,” past participle of excernere “to sift out, separate,” from ex- ex- ¹ + cernere “to decide, separate, sift”

Word History and Origins

Origin of excrete¹

C17: from Latin excernere to separate, discharge, from cernere to sift

Example Sentences

He’s heard that by exposing it to the perfect cheeseball pop song — upbeat, sincere — it will excrete a natural hallucinogenic: a profitable slime.

From Los Angeles Times

The body can then easily excrete the metals.

From Los Angeles Times

Excess sugar consumption also causes the body to excrete excess calcium, instead of reabsorbing it in the kidney as the body normally would.

From Salon

They are also essential to the preservation of tropical forests, with 70 to 90 percent of their tree species depending on frugivores to eat, spread and excrete their seeds.

From Salon

First, cicadas eat xylem sap, and most xylem feeders only pee in droplets because it uses less energy to excrete the sap.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• discharge
• secrete