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View synonyms for excrete

excrete

[ ik-skreet ]

verb (used with object)

, ex·cret·ed, ex·cret·ing.
  1. to separate and eliminate from an organic body; separate and expel from the blood or tissues, as waste or harmful matter.


excrete

/ ɪkˈskriːt /

verb

  1. to discharge (waste matter, such as urine, sweat, carbon dioxide, or faeces) from the body through the kidneys, skin, lungs, bowels, etc
  2. (of plants) to eliminate (waste matter, such as carbon dioxide and salts) through the leaves, roots, etc


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Derived Forms

  • exˈcretion, noun
  • exˈcretive, adjective
  • exˈcreter, noun

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Other Words From

  • ex·creter noun
  • ex·cretive adjective
  • unex·creted adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of excrete1

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin excrētus “sifted out,” past participle of excernere “to sift out, separate,” from ex- ex- 1 + cernere “to decide, separate, sift”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of excrete1

C17: from Latin excernere to separate, discharge, from cernere to sift

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Example Sentences

More photosynthesis means more carbon dioxide is siphoned out of the atmosphere and excreted back into the earth as organic compounds.

The compound allyl methyl sulphide takes longer for the body to metabolize and excrete than the others, so the next time you have garlic breath, you will know why.

Plants excrete oxygen as their waste product — and we can’t live without it.

When we breathe out that carbon dioxide, we are excreting it.

They excrete their chemical waste through the membrane that separates them from their environment.

Ebola causes the body to excrete fluids that are teeming with the virus.

Hormonal excesses in the blood require a clean and healthy liver to metabolize and excrete.

In disease, the amount of solids depends mainly upon the activity of metabolism and the ability of the kidneys to excrete.

Now the system labours to excrete them in solution, even when in excess; and often succeeds in doing so.

In fact, this fluid would seem to be produced by most of the Rhynchota, for the Psyllid and Aleurodid also excrete it.

They excrete a sweet, sticky liquid called “honey-dew,” and cause the leaves to curl or drop.

A little duct or vessel, destined to receive secreted fluids, and to excrete or discharge them; also, a secretory vessel.

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excretaexcretion