secretion
UK[sɪˈkriːʃn]US[sɪˈkriːʃn]
n
The process by which substances are produced and released from a cell or a gland.
n
A substance that is produced and released by a cell or a gland.
Morpheme Breakdown
secret
ion
secret
to set apart
ion
act or process
Etymology
The word 'secretion' originates from the Latin verb secernere, meaning "to separate, set apart, or distinguish". This verb is composed of se- (apart) and cernere (to sift, separate). The past participle secretus gave rise to the English word 'secret', implying something hidden or set apart. In biological terminology, 'secretion' was adopted in the 17th century to logically describe the physiological process where specific substances are "set apart" or separated from cells or blood to be released for a functional purpose. Thus, the core concept of separation evolved from a general physical action to a precise, specialized biological function.
Analysis
Structure: secret (to set apart) + ion (act or process)
- secret: From Latin secretus, meaning "set apart, hidden". In this word, it carries the sense of "to separate out".
- ion: A suffix of Latin origin indicating an action or process, or the result of an action.
Examples
The secretion of hormones is regulated by the pituitary gland.
Saliva is a bodily secretion that aids in digestion.
The plant's leaves have glands responsible for the secretion of a sticky resin.