Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The semifluid secretion of the sebaceous glands, consisting chiefly of fat, keratin, and cellular material.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The secretion of the sebaceous glands. Also sebum cutaneum.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun physiology A thick oily substance, secreted by the sebaceous glands of the skin, that consists of fat, keratin and cellular debris.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the oily secretion of the sebaceous glands; with perspiration it moistens and protects the skin

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin sēbum, tallow.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin sebum.

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Examples

  • Besides sprouting up hairs that sense things, your skin lubricates itself with oils we call sebum produced by sebaceous glands and also absorbs certain medications and hormones.

    You Being Beautiful Michael F. Roizen 2008

  • Besides sprouting up hairs that sense things, your skin lubricates itself with oils we call sebum produced by sebaceous glands and also absorbs certain medications and hormones.

    You Being Beautiful Michael F. Roizen 2008

  • The condition is caused by excess secretion of a natural oil called sebum, which is produced by the sebaceous glands.

    Cold Weather and Hypothermia 2007

  • They throw off a secretion known as sebum, which is made up principally of dead cells that have undergone fatty degeneration and of other debris.

    Maintaining Health Formerly Health and Efficiency R. L. Alsaker

  • Sebaceous glands produce a substance called sebum, which is in charge of keeping the skin and hair moisturized.

    EzineArticles 2010

  • The major lipid-soluble antioxidant in your skin hitches a ride to the stratum corneum, the dead upper layer of skin, with your natural oils, called sebum.

    You Being Beautiful Michael F. Roizen 2008

  • Your skin is lined with sebaceous glands that secrete an oily substance called sebum, which serves to keep your skin waterproof and resistant to infection by undesirable microorganisms.

    Don't Use Soap on Private Parts GreenFertility 2008

  • The major lipid-soluble antioxidant in your skin hitches a ride to the stratum corneum, the dead upper layer of skin, with your natural oils, called sebum.

    You Being Beautiful Michael F. Roizen 2008

  • They secrete a natural oil called sebum through the hair follicles onto your skin's surface.

    Recent Activity 2010

  • Men and women both have male sex hormones and these cause follicles next to fine hairs on the face, chest and back to produce an oil called sebum - sometimes in excessive quantities, which blocks glands and creates spots.

    unknown title 2009

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