SECRETION
Dictionary entry overview: What does secretion mean?
• SECRETION (noun)
The noun SECRETION has 2 senses:
1. the organic process of synthesizing and releasing some substance
2. a functionally specialized substance (especially one that is not a waste) released from a gland or cell
Familiarity information: SECRETION used as a noun is rare.
Dictionary entry details
• SECRETION (noun)
Meaning:
The organic process of synthesizing and releasing some substance
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Synonyms:
secernment; secretion
Hypernyms ("secretion" is a kind of...):
biological process; organic process (a process occurring in living organisms)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "secretion"):
galactosis (the secretion of milk)
hypersecretion (excessive secretion)
salivation (the secretion of saliva)
Meaning:
A functionally specialized substance (especially one that is not a waste) released from a gland or cell
Classified under:
Nouns denoting body parts
Hypernyms ("secretion" is a kind of...):
bodily fluid; body fluid; humor; humour; liquid body substance (the liquid parts of the body)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "secretion"):
ganoin; ganoine (shiny substance that resemble enamel and is secreted by the corium of certain fishes (especially ganoid fishes) and composes the outer layer of their scales)
pheromone (a chemical substance secreted externally by some animals (especially insects) that influences the physiology or behavior of other animals of the same species)
nectar (a sweet liquid secretion that is attractive to pollinators)
musk (an odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer; used as a perfume fixative)
royal jelly (a secretion of the pharyngeal glands of bees that is fed to very young larvae and to bees destined to be queens)
sebum (the oily secretion of the sebaceous glands; with perspiration it moistens and protects the skin)
saliva; spit; spittle (a clear liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands of the mouth; moistens the mouth and starts the digestion of starches)
mucous secretion; mucus (protective secretion of the mucous membranes; in the gut it lubricates the passage of food and protects the epithelial cells; in the nose and throat and lungs it can make it difficult for bacteria to penetrate the body through the epithelium)
synovia; synovial fluid (viscid lubricating fluid secreted by the membrane lining joints and tendon sheaths etc.)
autacoid; autocoid (any physiologically active internal secretion especially one of uncertain classification)
intestinal juice (secretions by glands lining the walls of the intestines)
endocrine; hormone; internal secretion (the secretion of an endocrine gland that is transmitted by the blood to the tissue on which it has a specific effect)
perspiration; sudor; sweat (salty fluid secreted by sweat glands)
lachrymal secretion; lacrimal secretion (saline fluid secreted by lacrimal glands; lubricates the surface of the eyeball)
