sə̇ˈkrēshən, sēˈ- noun
( -s )
Etymology: French sécrétion, from Latin secretion-, secretio separation, from secretus (past participle of secernere to separate, distinguish) + -ion-, -io -ion — more at secret
1.
a. : the act or process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing some material that is either specialized to perform some function in the organism (as saliva) or is isolated for excretion from the body (as urine)
b. : a product of such secretion formed in the animal or plant body (as the cellulose wall of a plant cell or the pancreatic juice of an animal) ; sometimes : any such product that performs a specific useful function in the organism — distinguished from excretion
2.
[ secrete (II) + -ion ]
: the act of hiding something : concealment
thwarted his attempt at secretion of some costly gemstones about his person