let-down
/ˈlɛtdaʊn/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: 5.42 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The neurohormonal release of milk in dairy cows or in breastfeeding human mothers.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "After seeing all the advertisements, the show itself was quite a let-down."
- "Journalists aside, are we so used to people looking glossier and younger in their profile photos—whether on social media or for work—that a certain percentage of “let-down” is baked into our expectations of meeting them in person?"
- "The majority of peasant farmers in the tropics allow the calf to suckle before milking in order to obtain a let-down of milk."
- "Occasionally a baby will be caught off-guard by mother's strong let-down and he will choke and sputter a bit."
- "Through oxytocin mediation, these afferent pathways become so well established that letdown can occur even when the mother merely thinks of her baby."
- "The flight received a radar letdown from air traffic control."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- British English: /ˈlɛtdaʊn/