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to lactate

6 6.2
To produce and give milk to a baby or young animal
  • verb
  • /ˈlækˌteɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : lactar
  • Effects of low DCAD on serum ions, urine ions, and urine metabolites of lactating dairy cows.
  • lactating woman
  • lactating mothers
  • pregnant and lactating

Then wolves who haven't even been pregnant start lactating to feed the young ones, you know, and how when the baby elephant is born, you know what happens?

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Examples

  • Unfortunately, in the process, they stop lactating and don't have money to buy more formula.

    Blog text (12)
  • Interest has also grown in the potential effects of DCAD on lactating dairy cows.

    Academic text (2018)
  • No states require employers to provide lactating employees with such equipment.

    Academic text (2011)
  • None are recommended for lactating mothers.

    Academic text (2006)
  • Briefly, lactating women provided a morning milk sample at 3 months postpartum using the milk collection kit provided.

    Academic text (2012)
  • A key aim of many studies of lactating phocids is to track the energetics of reproduction.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Four behaviors, representing upwards of 90% of a lactating female grey seal's activity budget, were classified well using accelerometry.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Methotrexate is excreted in breast milk, so it should be avoided in lactating females, and if treatment is essential, breastfeeding should be stopped.

    Academic text (2012)
  • The product is also contraindicated in pregnant or lactating women, and in patients with a history of keloid or hypertrophic scar formation (6).

    Academic text (2012)
  • The mother began to lactate shortly after giving birth to her baby.

Synonyms

to suck
vsto lactate
85 2.5

To feed a baby or young animal with milk from its mother

stresses milk production in the female rather than the feeding act
to nurse
vsto lactate
54 2.3

To feed a baby with your milk

focuses more on the female's secretion and supply of milk
to breastfeed
vsto lactate
23 2.6

Give a baby milk directly from the mother's breast

is broader naming the female's milk secretion and feeding together
to suckle
vsto lactate
19 5.5

To drink milk from a mother's breast or an animal's udder

emphasizes the female producing milk as well as feeding
to give suck
vsto lactate
  • Archaic
1 9.8

To feed a baby or young animal from the breast

also names the female producing and supplying milk

Compounds

calcium lactate
  • Specialized
1 4.4

A white salt that adds calcium to food and to medicines

How Much

to lactate
  • Specialized
6 6.2
to breastfeed
23 2.6

Surface Forms

lactate infinitive
lactated past
lactated past participle
lactating present participle
lactates third person singular

Morphology

lactate = lactation (semi-transparent) = lact + ate

The verb 'to secrete milk' is directly related to 'lactation' and the combining form 'lact-'; learners familiar with 'lactation' or 'lact-' words will find the relation clear, but the vocabulary is somewhat specialized.

Etymology

Lactate comes from the Latin root lac meaning 'milk', the same root in lactation and lactose. To lactate is to make or give 'milk', which is why we use the word for mothers feeding their young.