lactation /lakˈtāSH(ə)n, lækˈteɪʃ(ə)n 
/ ▸ noun the secretion of milk by the mammary glands. ▪ the suckling of young.
– DERIVATIVES lactational /-ˈtāSHənl/ adjective – ORIGIN mid 17th century : from Latin lactatio(n-), from lactare ‘suckle’, from lac, lact- ‘milk’.
EnglishOxford New American Dictionary
