lachrymatory

UK: /ˈlækrɪmətərɪ/ US: (lak′rə mə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lach•ry•ma•to•ry  (lak′rə mə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj., n., pl. -ries. 
adj. 

1. Physiology of, pertaining to, or causing the shedding of tears.

n. 

2. Also called lachrymal. a small, narrow-necked vase found in ancient Roman tombs, formerly thought to have been used to catch and keep the tears of bereaved friends.

Also, lacrimatory. 

• Medieval Latin lachrymātōrius, equivalent. to lachrymā(re) + -tōrius -tory¹; see lachrymal
• Medieval Latin lachrymātōrium, equivalent. to lachrymā(re) to shed tears + -tōrium -tory²; (adjective, adjectival)
• (noun, nominal) 1650–60

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lachrymatory / ˈlækrɪmətərɪ -trɪ/ noun ( -ries)

1. a small vessel found in ancient tombs, formerly thought to hold the tears of mourners

adjective

1. a variant spelling of lacrimatory

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lac•ri•ma•to•ry  (lak′rə mə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj., n., pl. -ries. 

1. Physiology lachrymatory.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

lacrimatory, lachrymatory, lacrymatory / ˈlækrɪmətərɪ -trɪ/ adjective

1. of, causing, or producing tears