secrete

C2+ Topic:Materials & Substances

US /sɪˈkrit/ UK /sɪˈkriːt/ See IPA manual

verb

Meanings

1

verb
to produce and discharge a substance; also, to hide away

The glands secrete a fluid that lubricates the joint.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to produce and discharge a... discharge emit exude release conceal hidestash

Opposites

absorb reveal expose

Word family

Forms secretes

Derived forms secretionsecretorsecretory

Related forms secret secretion secretive

Etymology

A back-formation from 'secretion', from Latin 'secret-', past-participle stem of 'secernere' ('to separate, set apart'), from 'se-' ('apart') + 'cernere' ('to sift, separate').

secernere Latin cernere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Materials & Substances

# secrete

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** sɪˈkrit
**IPA (UK):** sɪˈkriːt

## Meanings
1. to produce and discharge a substance; also, to hide away

## Examples
- The glands secrete a fluid that lubricates the joint.

## Synonyms
- discharge
- emit
- exude
- release
- conceal
- hide
- stash

## Antonyms
- absorb
- reveal
- expose

## Derived Forms
- secretion
- secretor
- secretory

## Related Forms
- secret
- secretion
- secretive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: secernere
- Root: cernere

## Etymology
A back-formation from 'secretion', from Latin 'secret-', past-participle stem of 'secernere' ('to separate, set apart'), from 'se-' ('apart') + 'cernere' ('to sift, separate').

## AI Etymology
Secrete is a back-formation from 'secretion', from Latin 'secret-', past-participle stem of 'secernere' ('to separate, set apart'), from 'se-' ('apart') + 'cernere' ('to sift, separate'). Its formation runs backward from an existing longer form, producing a shorter base that then carries the same family of senses. As a verb, it means "to produce and discharge a substance; also, to hide away", so the modern sense keeps the older action or relation visible. Relevant historical forms include Latin secernere and Latin cernere. Derivative forms include secretion, secretor, secretory; related words include secret, secretion, secretive.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances

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secrete

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