secretion

[ si-kree-shuhn ]

noun

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.

secretion

/ 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

secretion

/ 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.

Derived Forms

• seˈcretionary, adjective

Other Words From

• se·cre·tion·ar·y [si-, kree, -sh, uh, -ner-ee], adjective
• nonse·cretion noun
• nonse·cretion·ary adjective
• over·se·cretion noun
• super·se·cretion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of secretion¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of secretion¹

C17: from Medieval Latin sēcrētiō, from Latin: a separation; see secern

Example Sentences

With the drug, there was a marked increase in the secretion of the anti-inflammatory signal, confirming their idea that not the number but the function of B cells responds to the treatment, according to the research published online on June 18, 2024, in Neurology® Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, an official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

From Science Daily

Having found that BKCa helps cancer cells with reprogramming their metabolism, Dr. Bischof, first author of the study, specifically looked for evidence of the Warburg effect by measuring lactate concentrations over time; higher levels of lactate secretion imply a shift towards metabolism that does not use oxygen.

From Science Daily

As expected, the presence of BKCa not only increased lactate secretion, but also increased the ability of breast cancer cells to grow without oxygen.

From Science Daily

In animals, GLP-1 — a hormone that stimulates insulin secretion and inhibits food intake — was shown to greatly impact taste sensitivity to sweetness.

From Salon

They discovered that disruption of the internal clock in the epithelial cells lining the intestine alters secretion of cytokine proteins, leading to heightened inflammation, increased numbers of immunosuppressive myeloid cells and cancer progression.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• bile
• mucus
• saliva