Lac"te*al (?), a. [L. lacteus milky, fr. lac, lactis, milk. Cf. Galaxy, Lettuce.] 1. Pertaining to, or resembling, milk; milky; as, the lacteal fluid.

2. (Anat. & Physiol.) Pertaining to, or containing, chyle; as, the lacteal vessels.

Lac"te*al, n. (Anat.) One of the lymphatic vessels which convey chyle from the small intestine through the mesenteric glands to the thoracic duct; a chyliferous vessel.