excrete

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɪkˈskriːt/ UK /ɪkˈskriːt/ See IPA manual

Freq #66302

Meanings

1

verb
to discharge waste matter or another substance from a body, organ, cell, or biological system

The kidneys excrete excess salts in the urine.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to discharge waste matter... eliminate discharge expel

Opposites

retain absorb

Word family

Forms excretedexcretesexcretory

Related forms excretionexcretorysecrete

Etymology

From Latin excretus, the past participle of excernere ('to sift out, separate, or discharge'), formed from ex- ('out') + cernere ('to separate, distinguish'). English specialized the verb for the biological removal of waste or other substances.

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

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