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Defecate vs Excrete - What's the difference?

defecate | excrete |

As verbs the difference between defecate and excrete

is that defecate is to purify, to clean of dregs etc while excrete is to discharge from the system.

As an adjective defecate

is freed from pollutants, dregs, lees, etc.; refined; purified.

defecate

English

Alternative forms

* * defaecate

Verb

(defecat)
  • To purify, to clean of dregs etc.
  • * Boyle
    • to defecate the dark and muddy oil of amber
  • * , New York 2001, p.224:
    • Some are of opinion that such fat, standing waters make the best beer, and that seething doth defecate it […].
  • To purge; to pass (something) as excrement.
  • To empty one's bowels of feces.

    • Usage notes

    * The sense 'to purify' is rare in contrast to the common mean to empty bowels.

    Synonyms

    * drop the kids off at the pool, (vulgar) shit, (vulgar) shite, (vulgar) take a shit, (slang) take a dump, (informal) drop a deuce * See also

    Related terms

    * defecation *

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) Freed from pollutants, dregs, lees, etc.; refined; purified.
  • * Bates
    • Till the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense.
    ----

    excrete

    English

    Verb

    (excret)
  • (of an organism) to discharge from the system.

    • Derived terms

    * excrement * excreta * excretion * excretory