lachrymation

9.8

Tears that come from the eyes, often because of irritation or illness

noun
/ˌlækrɪˈmeɪʃən/

: lagrimeo

The doctor noted persistent lachrymation as a symptom of conjunctivitis.

Examples

Exposure to strong fumes instantly triggered lachrymation in everyone present.
His constant lachrymation during the movie surprised everyone.
Allergic reactions often cause excessive lachrymation and nasal discharge.
The doctor noted excessive lachrymation as a symptom.
Allergic reactions often cause excessive lachrymation and nasal discharge.
Exposure to strong fumes instantly triggered lachrymation in everyone present.
The doctor noted persistent lachrymation as a symptom of conjunctivitis.

Synonyms

crying

vslachrymation

119 1.0

Tears and sounds you make when you feel sad or hurt

focuses on the physical production rather than accompanying sounds

cry

vslachrymation

30 1.0

A time when someone has tears because they feel sad or upset

treats the idea as a physical or clinical production rather than an episode

weeping

vslachrymation

15 3.2

Showing sadness by crying

applies to tear production in medical or excessive contexts instead of sorrow

tearing

vslachrymation

5 1.4

The flow of tears from the eyes because of feeling or eye irritation

frames the same activity as a physical production or symptom

watering

vslachrymation

1 1.0

Tears flow from the eyes without meaning to

highlights production as a medical or excessive sign rather than simple flow

tearfulness

vslachrymation

1 4.3

A feeling of having many tears and wanting to cry because of sadness

describes the production act itself, not the lasting emotional tendency

lacrimation

vslachrymation

Specialized

1 8.6

Tears that come from the eyes because of feelings or eye irritation

is focused on excess production or being a medical symptom

lacrimal secretion

vslachrymation

Specialized

6.1

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

refers instead to the act or process of producing that fluid

effusion of tears

vslachrymation

7.7

Tears that suddenly flow because of a strong feeling

is broader, covering production including medical or chronic excess

Antonyms

dryness

10 1.0

Lack of water or wetness in something

How Tearful

sobbing

16 1.0

weeping

15 3.2

lachrymation

9.8

watery-eyed

4 4.1

dry eye

Specialized

5 4.0

Surface Forms

lachrymation singular

lachrymations plural

Morphology

lachrymation = lachrym + ation

Formed from the Latin combining form 'lachrym-' (relating to tears) plus the productive suffix '-ation'; this combining form is medical/Latinate and not transparently recognizable to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word lachrymation comes from the Latin lacrima, which means 'tear'. So lachrymation means making or shedding tears, often used when the eyes make too many tears or as a medical symptom.