noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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US:/lækˈteɪʃən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -eɪʃən
CMU ARPABET:L AE0 K T EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
The secretion of milk from the mammary gland of a female mammal.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
The process of providing the milk to the young; breastfeeding.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The period of time that a mother lactates to feed her young; a lactation period.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
feeding an infant by giving suck at the breast
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: suckling
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: feeding, alimentation
5
noun
Meaning 5
the production and secretion of milk by the mammary glands
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: bodily process, body process, bodily function, activity
6
noun
Meaning 6
the period following birth during which milk is secreted
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
lactation normally continues until weaning
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: time period, period of time, period
History
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin lactātiō, lactātiōnis. Equivalent to lactate + -ion.
Across languages
Translations
39 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
лакта́цыя
(laktácyja)
— secretion of milk
Czech:
laktace
— secretion of milk
Finnish:
maidoneritys
— secretion of milk
French:
lactation
— secretion of milk
Hungarian:
tejelválasztás
— secretion of milk
Hungarian:
tejképződés
— secretion of milk
Hungarian:
tejtermelés
— secretion of milk
Hungarian:
laktáció
— secretion of milk
Norwegian Bokmål:
laktasjon
— secretion of milk
Norwegian Nynorsk:
laktasjon
— secretion of milk
Polish:
laktacja
— secretion of milk
Portuguese:
lactação
— secretion of milk
Russian:
лакта́ция
(laktácija)
— secretion of milk
Swedish:
laktation
— secretion of milk
Ukrainian:
лакта́ція
(laktácija)
— secretion of milk
Bulgarian:
кърмене
(kǎrmene)
— process of providing milk to the young
Chinese Mandarin:
哺乳
(bǔrǔ)
— process of providing milk to the young
Finnish:
imetys
— process of providing milk to the young
Finnish:
rintaruokinta
— process of providing milk to the young
French:
allaitement
— process of providing milk to the young
French:
lactation
— process of providing milk to the young
Hungarian:
szoptatás
— process of providing milk to the young
Hungarian:
laktáció
— process of providing milk to the young
Japanese:
授乳
(junyū)
— process of providing milk to the young
Portuguese:
lactação
— process of providing milk to the young
Russian:
кормле́ние гру́дью
(kormlénije grúdʹju)
— process of providing milk to the young
Russian:
грудно́е вска́рмливание
(grudnóje vskármlivanije)
— process of providing milk to the young
Swedish:
amning
— process of providing milk to the young
Belarusian:
лакта́цыя
(laktácyja)
— lactation period
Chinese Mandarin:
哺乳期
(bǔrǔ qí)
— lactation period
Finnish:
imetysaika
— lactation period
French:
lactation
— lactation period
Hungarian:
tejelés
— lactation period
Hungarian:
laktáció
— lactation period
Norwegian Bokmål:
laktasjon
— lactation period
Norwegian Nynorsk:
laktasjon
— lactation period
Portuguese:
lactação
— lactation period
Russian:
лакта́ция
(laktácija)
— lactation period
Ukrainian:
лакта́ція
(laktácija)
— lactation period
