lacrimatory
Definition
- Adjective:
- Relating to tears: Describes something that is connected with, produces, or involves tears.
- Prompting tears: Describes something that has the effect of causing tears to flow.
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Police used a lacrimatory gas to disperse the crowd. (This describes a type of gas that causes tears.)
- The onion's lacrimatory effect is due to a released chemical. (This describes the tear-producing property of the onion.)
- She studied the lacrimatory glands and their functions. (This describes glands that are related to tear production.)
Advanced Usage
- Scientific/Technical Context: The term is often used in chemistry, biology, and law enforcement to describe substances (like certain gases or chemicals) that irritate the eyes and cause tearing.
- The compound was identified as a potent lacrimatory agent.
Variants and Related Words
- Lacrimal (adj): Pertaining to tears or the tear-secreting organs. Often used in anatomical contexts (e.g., , ).
- Lachrymatory (adj): An alternative spelling of "lacrimatory," identical in meaning.
- Lachrymator (n): A substance that causes tears; a tear-gas agent.
Synonyms
- Tear-inducing: Causing tears.
- Tear-producing: Having the effect of generating tears.
- Lachrymose (adj): While primarily meaning "sad and inclined to weep," it can sometimes relate to tears in a more emotional sense, but is not a direct synonym for the physical, irritant effect of "lacrimatory."
Notes on Meaning
- The word lacrimatory is almost exclusively used to describe a physical, often chemical, cause of tears (like pepper spray or onion vapor). It is not typically used for emotional causes of crying (like a sad movie). For emotional causes, words like "heartbreaking," "moving," or "poignant" are more common.
Adjective
-
relating to or prompting tears
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