colostrum
3 synonyms for colostrum, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A thick, nutrient-rich milk made by the mammary glands in the later stages of pregnancy and during the days right after giving birth.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
beestings
first milk
fore-milk
How to use colostrum
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
produce colostrum
feed on colostrum
colostrum production
early colostrum
colostrum from the mother
Colostrum is a medical and biological term, used in clinical and farming contexts rather than everyday speech.
Etymology
The word was borrowed directly from Latin colostrum, though the ultimate origin of the Latin term itself is not known.
Full origin of colostrum →Frequently asked questions
What is colostrum?
Colostrum is the thick, nutrient-rich milk that mammary glands produce in late pregnancy and during the first few days after birth.
Why is colostrum important for newborns?
It is the first milk a newborn receives, and it differs from ordinary milk that follows in the days after birth.
Is colostrum only in humans?
No, colostrum is produced by mammary glands generally, so it is found in other mammals as well as humans.
