lacrimatory

Thân thiện

A scientist carefully handles a lacrimatory chemical in the laboratory.

Definition

1. 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.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. relating to or prompting tears

Từ đồng nghĩa

• lachrymatory