secrete

1 of 2

verb (1)

se·​crete si-ˈkrēt 

secreted; secreting

transitive verb

: to form and give off (a secretion)

secrete

2 of 2

verb (2)

se·​crete si-ˈkrēt  ˈsē-krət 

secreted; secreting

transitive verb

1

: to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

2

: to appropriate secretly : abstract

Did you know?

If you guessed that the secret to the origins of secrete is the word secret, you are correct. Secrete developed in the mid-18th century as an alteration of a now obsolete verb secret. That verb had the meaning now carried by secrete and derived from the familiar noun secret ("something kept hidden or unexplained"). The noun, in turn, traces back to the Latin secretus, the past participle of the verb secernere, meaning "to separate" or "to distinguish." Incidentally, there is an earlier and distinct verb secrete with the more scientific meaning "to form and give off (a secretion)." That secrete is a back-formation from secretion, another word that can be traced back to secernere.

Synonyms

Verb (2)

• bury
• cache
• conceal
• ensconce
• hide

Choose the Right Synonym for secrete

hide, conceal, screen, secrete, bury mean to withhold or withdraw from sight.

hide may or may not suggest intent.

hide in the closet

a house hidden in the woods

conceal usually does imply intent and often specifically implies a refusal to divulge.

concealed the weapon

screen implies an interposing of something that prevents discovery.

a house screened by trees

secrete suggests a depositing in a place unknown to others.

secreted the amulet inside his shirt

bury implies covering up so as to hide completely.

buried the treasure

Examples of secrete in a Sentence

Verb (2)

the police found the weapon secreted under the driver's seat of the getaway car

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Whiteflies also secrete honeydew, which can lead to the growth of sooty mold, which reduces photosynthesis and overall plant health, says Khan. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2024

Exactly how Israel may have secreted explosive material into so many thousands of gadgets and remotely detonated those payloads remains far from clear. —Andy Greenberg, WIRED, 19 Sep. 2024

The hypothalamus in the brain, pituitary gland, and ovaries secrete these hormones.3 During the follicular phase, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signals the pituitary gland to produce follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). —Corey Whelan, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2024

The Russian woman accused of sneaking onto a Delta Air Lines flight from New York to Paris has been charged with knowingly and intentionally secreting herself aboard an airplane. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

back-formation from secretion

Verb (2)

alteration of obsolete secret, from secret entry 1

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1693, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

secrete

1 of 2 verb

se·​crete si-ˈkrēt 

secreted; secreting

: to produce and give off a secretion

glands that secrete saliva

secrete

2 of 2 verb

se·​crete si-ˈkrēt 

ˈsē-krət

secreted; secreting

: to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

Medical Definition

secrete

transitive verb

se·​crete si-ˈkrēt 

secreted; secreting

: to form and give off (a secretion)

cells secreting mucus