to separate and eliminate from an organic body; separate and expel from the blood or tissues, as waste or harmful matter.
Origin
1610-20; < Latinexcrētus (past participle of excernere to sift out, separate), equivalent to ex-ex-1 + crē- (perfect stem of cernere to sift) + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
excreter, noun
excretive, adjective
unexcreted, adjective
Examples from the web for excrete
The earthworms excrete a slightly different version of the metals, making them easier for plants to suck up.
And you say kidneys excrete bad stuff which is totally true.
As the fish respire, their gills excrete ammonia into the water.
Even the smallest microbe can figure out how to find food, eat, excrete and multiply.
Quorum sensing uses small molecules that bacteria can both excrete and sense.
First, the first cell had to form, with a cell wall already smart enough to let wanted items in and to excrete unwanted things.
The organisms excrete the fuel, which can then be collected using conventional chemical-separation technologies.
The ability to excrete salt at normal levels of blood pressure varies from one individual to another.
They also excrete creatine, rather than creatinine like mammals.
British Dictionary definitions for excrete
excrete
/ɪkˈskriːt/
verb
1.
to discharge (waste matter, such as urine, sweat, carbon dioxide, or faeces) from the body through the kidneys, skin, lungs, bowels, etc
2.
(of plants) to eliminate (waste matter, such as carbon dioxide and salts) through the leaves, roots, etc