Excrete: meaning, definitions and examples

Used when referring to the process of eliminating waste products from a living organism, often in a biological or medical context.

• Humans excrete sweat to regulate body temperature.
• The kidneys excrete waste materials from the blood.

Used more broadly to mean removing or getting rid of something, not necessarily a substance. It can be used in everyday language as well as in formal contexts.

• We need to eliminate all the errors from the document.
• The new policy aims to eliminate poverty in the region.

Has a more forceful connotation and is often used when something or someone is being removed with effort or intent. It can be used in both physical and metaphorical contexts.

• The school decided to expel the student for repeated rule violations.
• The lungs expel carbon dioxide from the body.

Can refer to the release of substances, typically liquids or gases, from various sources such as factories, bodily organs, or natural bodies of water. It is also used in a medical context when a patient is released from care.

• The factory was fined for illegally discharging waste into the river.
• She was discharged from the hospital after her surgery.

Used in a biological or medical context when referring to the process of eliminating waste matter from the body.

• The kidneys excrete waste products through urine.
• Certain animals excrete toxins as a defense mechanism.

Commonly used in a biological context to describe glands or cells producing and emitting substances such as hormones or enzymes.

• The pancreas secretes insulin to regulate blood sugar levels.
• Some plants secrete nectar to attract pollinators.

A general term for letting something go or setting something free, can be used in a variety of contexts including emotions, physical objects, or energy.

• They are planning to release a new movie next month.
• She released her grip on the rope.

Describes the process of something oozing out (such as liquid, light, or even attitude) from a surface or person, usually in a noticeable manner.

• The plant exudes a sticky sap when cut.
• He exudes confidence in every situation.