Body Substance
colostrum Audio
co·los·trum [ kuh-los-truhm ]
Subclass of:
Bodily secretions
Etymology:
Latin colostrum = the first milk after pregnancy
Used in English since 1577.
Definitions related to colostrum:
  • An antibody-rich form of breast milk, produced at the end of pregnancy and for a short time after birth, which strengthens a newborn's immune system.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • The thin, yellow, serous fluid secreted by the mammary glands during pregnancy and immediately postpartum before lactation begins. It consists of immunologically active substances, white blood cells, water, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • Thin, yellow, serous fluid secreted by the mammary glands during pregnancy and immediately postpartum before lactation begins; consists of immunologically active substances, white blood cells, water, protein, fat, and carbohydrates.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
Try this search on: Farlex, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, or Wordnik

This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.