lachrymation
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun The act or process of shedding tears; the secretion and flow of tears from the eyes, typically as a response to emotion, irritation, or physical stimulus.
Usage
This is a formal, medical, or literary term for the common act of crying or the production of tears. It is often used in clinical contexts to describe a symptom.
Examples
- The patient reported persistent lachrymation after the chemical exposure.
- Emotional distress can trigger lachrymation.
- The onion's vapors caused immediate lachrymation.
Advanced Usage
- Pathological lachrymation: Refers to excessive or abnormal tearing due to a medical condition, such as a blocked tear duct.
- Reflex lachrymation: Describes tearing caused by an external irritant, like smoke or wind, as opposed to emotional stimuli.
Variants and Related Words
- Lacrimation: An alternative spelling, identical in meaning and usage. This spelling is also common in medical terminology.
- Lacrimal (adj): Pertaining to tears or the tear-secreting glands (e.g., the lacrimal gland).
- Lacrimator (n): A substance that causes tears, such as tear gas.
Synonyms
- Tearing: The most direct and common synonym.
- Watering (of the eyes): A more informal term.
- Epiphora: A specific medical term for an overflow of tears onto the face, often due to obstruction.
Related Idioms or Phrases
Note: There are no common idioms using the specific word "lachrymation." The concept is expressed idiomatically with simpler terms like "cry," "tear up," or "get misty-eyed."
Noun
- shedding tears