SECRETION

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 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)

Sense 1

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)

Derivation:

secrete (generate and separate from cells or bodily fluids)

Sense 2

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"):

lachrymal secretion; lacrimal secretion (saline fluid secreted by lacrimal glands; lubricates the surface of the eyeball)

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)

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)

 Context examples 

Excessive secretion of the androgen hormones dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate, and androstenedione, from the adrenal gland.

(Adrenal Androgen Excess, NCI Thesaurus)

This protein is involved in the modulation of mucus secretion.

(Anterior Gradient Protein 2 Homolog, NCI Thesaurus)

VRC5288 also included another portion of an unrelated virus to improve secretion of virus particles from cells.

(DNA vaccines protect monkeys against Zika virus, NIH)

Fluids and secretions related to the nervous system.

(Nervous System Fluids and Secretions, NCI Thesaurus)

This may stimulate the secretion of multiple cytokines and may result in cell lysis of mesothelin-expressing cancer cells.

(Anti-mesothelin CIR mRNA-electroporated Autologous T Cells, NCI Thesaurus)

The muscarinic cholinergic receptor 1 is involved in mediation of vagally-induced bronchoconstriction and in the acid secretion of the gastrointestinal tract.

(Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor M1, NCI Thesaurus)

Upon intravenous administration, the anti-MIF MoAb binds to MIF, blocking its activity and preventing the MIF-mediated secretion of certain cytokines, including interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

(Anti-Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Monoclonal Antibody, NCI Thesaurus)

This may result in the recruitment and activation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTLs), CTL-mediated specific tumor cell lysis, and the secretion of antitumor cytokines and chemokines.

(Anti-CD3 x Anti-CD20 Bispecific Antibody-Armed Activated T Cells, NCI Thesaurus)

At low plasma concentration this agent is filtered by the glomeruli and almost completely cleared from the renal blood stream by active tubular secretion in a single transit through the kidney.

(Aminohippurate Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

A clonal disorder, also known as immunoproliferative small intestinal disease or Mediterranean lymphoma, characterised by the secretion of a defective alpha heavy chain.

(Alpha Heavy Chain Disease, NCI Thesaurus)