1. Make or perceive a clear distinction between
   "The researcher secerned the mutant cells from the normal ones";
   - distinguish, separate, differentiate, severalize [rare], severalise [Brit, rare], tell apart
    
2. (biology) to separate and secrete a substance
   "These glands secern hormones"

Derived forms: secerned, secerning, secerns

Type of: finger [informal], identify, place