verb
lactating
lak-TAY-ting
Lactating (verb) means producing milk in the mammary glands, as a woman does after giving birth or a female mammal does while feeding young. Example: “Lactating mothers need roughly 500 extra calories a day.”
verb
1
Producing milk in the mammary glands, as a woman does after giving birth or a female mammal does while feeding young.
"Lactating mothers need roughly 500 extra calories a day."
"She was still lactating six weeks after weaning."
adjective
1
Describing a woman or female animal currently producing milk.
"The trial excluded pregnant and lactating women."
"A lactating cow needs a great deal of fresh water."
How to use lactating
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMaking breast milk.
When to use it
Clinical and neutral; in everyday speech people say breastfeeding or nursing.
Memory tip
The noun is lactation and the verb is lactate; the stress falls on the second syllable in both the verb and lactating.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
lactating vs breastfeeding
lactating vs lactose
Common pairings
lactating mothers
pregnant or lactating
lactating women should avoid
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_____ mothers need roughly 500 extra calories a day.
Etymology
From Latin lactare 'to suckle, produce milk', from lac, lactis 'milk', the root behind lactose and lactic.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for lactating
See all rhymes for lactating →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between lactating and breastfeeding?
Lactating is the body producing milk; breastfeeding is the act of feeding a baby at the breast. Someone can lactate without breastfeeding, for example while exclusively pumping, and lactation can continue for a while after breastfeeding stops.
Can you lactate without being pregnant?
Yes. Induced lactation can be established with stimulation and sometimes medication, for instance by adoptive parents. Unexplained milk production outside pregnancy, called galactorrhoea, can also signal a hormonal problem and is worth having checked.
How long does lactation last?
It continues as long as milk is regularly removed, since supply responds to demand. Once feeding or pumping stops, production usually tails off over days to weeks, though small amounts can persist for months.
What is the meaning of lactating?
"lactating" (verb) means producing milk in the mammary glands, as a woman does after giving birth or a female mammal does while feeding young.
