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lachrymation

/ˈlækrəˌmeɪʃən/
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Other forms: lachrymations

Lachrymation is a fancy word for shedding tears. If you're embarrassed to be caught sniffling during a sappy movie, you can pretend your lachrymation is caused by allergies.

The word lachrymation comes from the Latin lacryma, "a tear," a root it shares with the more common lachrymose, which means "tearful or sad." Long ago, medical textbooks discussed lachrymation, but it's rarely used today. Still, if you want to impress your friend, you might warn them about the emotional play you want to see together: "I've heard it causes frequent lachrymation — you should bring tissues."

Definitions of lachrymation
  1. noun
    shedding tears
    see moresee less
    type of:
    activity, bodily function, bodily process, body process
    an organic process that takes place in the body
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