Word Noun
lactation
n.
C1 Advanced US /ɫækˈteɪʃən/ UK /læktˈeɪʃən/ lac·ta·tion UK spelling lactations
Definition
n.the process of making and releasing milk from the breasts of a mother to feed her baby.
n.the physiological process of milk production and secretion in the mammary glands of female mammals.
Examples
“The mother began lactation shortly after giving birth.”
“Many mammals have evolved specialized behaviors to ensure their young receive enough milk during the early stages of lactation.”
“The transition from pregnancy to lactation involves complex hormonal shifts that prepare the mammary glands for the high-volume secretion required to sustain a growing infant.”
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin lactātiō, lactātiōnis. Equivalent to lactate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated