Meaning & use
secrete
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Meanings
verbtransitivebiologytechnical
To produce and release a substance, especially from a gland or cell in a living organism.
Grammar: Takes an object: secrete a hormone. Often used in passive: the substance is secreted by the gland.
Patterns
- secrete a substance
- secrete from something
- be secreted by something
The pancreas secretes insulin to control blood sugar.
Certain cells in the stomach secrete acid to help digest food.
The plant secretes a sticky liquid to trap insects.
verbtransitiveformalliterary
To hide something in a place where it is unlikely to be found.
Grammar: Takes an object: secrete a key. Often used in the passive: the money was secreted in a drawer.
Patterns
- secrete something in something
- secrete something away
She secreted the letter in a hidden compartment of her desk.
The thieves had secreted the stolen jewels in a cave.
He secreted himself behind the curtains to avoid being seen.
Word forms
| third person singular | secretes |
|---|---|
| past tense | secreted |
| past participle | secreted |
| -ing form | secreting |
Common combinations
- secrete a hormone
- The thyroid gland secretes a hormone that controls metabolism.
- secrete oil
- The skin secretes oil to keep itself moist.
- secrete a substance
- Some bacteria secrete a substance that makes them resistant to antibiotics.
- secrete away
- The spy secreted away the documents in a safe.
Synonyms and how they differ
- release
- A more general word for letting a substance out; 'secrete' is the technical term used in biology for production by a gland or cell.
- excrete
- Means to get rid of waste products from the body; 'secrete' often refers to useful substances, though the two can overlap.
- hide
- The everyday word for putting something where it cannot be seen; 'secrete' in this sense is more formal and suggests careful concealment.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: secrete or secret?
secrete vs secret
'Secret' is usually an adjective or noun meaning something kept hidden; 'secrete' is a verb. They sound different: /ˈsiːkrət/ vs /sɪˈkriːt/.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'secrete' correctly?
Choose one answer.
In biology, 'secrete' means to produce and release a substance, so 'secretes a hormone' is correct. The other options misuse the word or confuse it with 'secret' or 'secrete' in the sense of hiding, which would need an object like 'secreted the money'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “secrete”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.