/ sɪˈkriːt; NAmE / verb [ vn ]
1.
( of part of the body or a plant ) to produce a liquid substance :
Insulin is secreted by the pancreas.
2.
secrete sth (in sth) ( formal ) to hide sth, especially sth small :
The drugs were secreted in the lining of his case.
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WORD ORIGIN
sense 1 early 18th cent.: back-formation from secretion .
sense 2 mid 18th cent.: alteration of the obsolete verb secret keep secret .