excreted
|ex-cret-ed|
/ɪkˈskriːt/
(excrete)
expel waste
Etymology
'excrete' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'excretus', where 'ex-' meant 'out' and 'cernere' meant 'to separate'.
'excretus' changed from the Latin verb 'excernere' (to sift out, separate) and through Late Latin/Medieval scientific usage entered English as 'excrete' by the 17th century.
Initially it meant 'to separate out' in a general sense; over time it became specialized to mean 'to discharge waste from an organism'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Verb 1
past tense or past participle form of 'excrete': to discharge or separate waste matter from an organism (e.g., through urine, feces, sweat) or to remove unwanted substances.
The kidneys excreted excess salt and water.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/29 02:27