Lacteal

adj, noun

adj, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    Each of the lymphatic vessels which convey chyle from the mesentery to the thoracic duct. in-plural

    "These ‘veins’ must have been the lacteals or chyle-vessels, whose function was explained by Aselli some two thousand years later."

  2. 2
    any of the lymphatic vessels that convey chyle from the small intestine to the thoracic duct wordnet
  3. 3
    One of the lactiferous ducts or other components of milk-producing organs. obsolete
Adjective
  1. 1
    Relating to milk.
  2. 2
    Relating to milk production.

    "lacteal ducts in the breasts"

  3. 3
    Relating to, or containing, chyle.

    "the lacteal vessels"

Adjective
  1. 1
    relating to or consisting of or producing or resembling milk wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
excretorylachrymallachrymoselacrimatorylactationallacteous

Example

More examples

"These ‘veins’ must have been the lacteals or chyle-vessels, whose function was explained by Aselli some two thousand years later."

Etymology

lacto- + -al

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.