Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
lachrymal secretion

lachrymal secretion

9.3
A salty liquid from the eye that keeps the surface wet and protects it
  • noun
  • /ˈlækrɪməl sɪˈkriːʃən/
  • UK
translation icon : secreción lagrimal
  • During strong emotions, lachrymal secretion increases, resulting in visible tears.

Examples

  • The lachrymal secretion helps keep the eyes moist.

  • Excessive lachrymal secretion can cause watery eyes and blurred vision.

  • A dysfunction in lachrymal secretion may lead to dry eye syndrome.

  • Excessive lachrymal secretions can cause eye irritation.

  • A dysfunction in lachrymal secretion may lead to dry eye syndrome.

  • During strong emotions, lachrymal secretion increases, resulting in visible tears.

  • The lachrymal secretion helps keep the eyes moist and protect them from irritation.

Synonyms

tear
vslachrymal secretion
∞ 1.0

A drop of salty liquid from the eye when you cry or your eye hurts

refers to the general continuous gland secretion rather than a single emotional drop
lacrimal secretion
vslachrymal secretion
  • Specialized
6.1

A clear salty liquid made by glands in the eye that keeps the eye wet and protects it

is the formal scientific term for the same saline eye fluid

Surface Forms

lachrymal secretion singular
lachrymal secretions plural

Morphology

lachrymal + secretion

The noun phrase is fully compositional: 'lachrymal' means related to tears/tear glands and 'secretion' means material discharged by a gland, so together they denote the fluid produced by the lacrimal glands. This adjective+noun formation follows a regular medical/technical pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who already knows both constituent meanings.

Etymology

Lachrymal secretion comes from old words for 'tear' (lachrymal) and 'something released' (secretion). Imagine small glands by the eye making salty drops to keep the eye wet, and that is why it means the fluid your eyes make — 'tears'.