lachrymal

adjective

lach·​ry·​mal ˈla-krə-məl 

variants or lacrimal

1

usually lacrimal : of, relating to, or being glands that produce tears

2

: of, relating to, or marked by tears

Examples of lachrymal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This paradoxically causes more watery fluid from the lacrimal glands that causes tearing, which explains the curious symptom of watery eyes due to dry eye syndrome. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 16 Aug. 2022

Even our lacrimal surrogates in Hollywood have been turning their backs on us and toward age-defying procedures that culminate in faces that can no longer approximate our sorrow. —New York Times, 8 Feb. 2022

These latter two types come from lacrimal glands on the upper outside of our eye sockets. —Sophie Putka, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2021

The nerves on your cornea detect the presence of syn-propanethial-S-oxide and send the signal to your central nervous system (Fig 2), which then stimulate the autonomic nerve fibers on the lachrymal glands to produce tears [2] in order to dilute the syn-propanethial-S-oxide. —Ashton Yoon, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2017

For the next two centuries, scientists mapped the anatomy of crying, leaving their names, like tiny explorer’s flags, on the topography of the lachrymal system. —Maureen Stanton, Longreads, 10 Aug. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lacrimale, from Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French lacrymal, from Medieval Latin lacrimalis, from Latin lacrima tear, from Old Latin dacrima, probably from Greek dakry — more at tear entry 3

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

lachrymal

adjective

lach·​ry·​mal

variants or lacrimal

ˈlak-rə-məl 

1

usually lacrimal : of, relating to, or being the glands that produce tears

2

: of, relating to, or marked by tears