lactations

lactations — noun

1. The biological process in which mammary glands produce and release milk, a funct

1.名詞B2
釋義

The biological process in which mammary glands produce and release milk, a function that starts after childbirth and is controlled by hormones — for example, comparing how milk production differs across species or between first and later births.

例句

The lactations of dairy cows are carefully tracked to improve milk yields.

plural for multiple instances across animals

Paloma compared the lactations of goats, sheep, and water buffalo for her thesis.

同義詞
  • milk secretion

    more technical; focuses on the glandular release aspect rather than the whole process

  • milk production

    broader term; less clinical, used in farming and nutrition contexts

用法筆記

When referring to the general physiological process, 'lactation' is uncountable (e.g., 'Lactation requires adequate nutrition'). The plural 'lactations' is used when discussing multiple distinct episodes — across different individuals, species, or pregnancies.

常見錯誤

❌She experienced three lactations periods.
✅She experienced three lactations.
💡'lactation' already means a period/process; do not add 'period' after the plural form.
❌Lactations is a natural process.
✅Lactation is a natural process.
💡Use the singular when describing the general process.

2. The stretch of time after giving birth when a mother produces breast milk for he

2.名詞B2
釋義

The stretch of time after giving birth when a mother produces breast milk for her baby, lasting from a few months to over a year — for example, discussing how one mother's lactation period may be shorter or longer than another's.

例句

Eitan's partner had two lactations, each lasting about fourteen months.

plural for separate postpartum periods

Sana noticed that her first and second lactations felt very different in length.

同義詞
  • nursing period

    more informal; emphasises the act of breastfeeding rather than the biological timeframe

  • breastfeeding phase

    common in parenting contexts; less clinical than 'lactation'

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 refers specifically to the time span (weeks or months) during which milk is produced, whereas sense 1 describes the biological process itself. Both take the plural 'lactations' when counting or comparing separate instances.

常見錯誤

❌Her lactation lasted for six months, and then she had a second lactation.
✅Her first lactation lasted six months, and she later had a second.
💡Use ordinal numbering (first/second/third) to count multiple lactation periods.