In which process would a cell take in nutrients secreted by neighboring cells?

The process in which a cell takes in nutrients secreted by neighboring cells is known as pinocytosis. Pinocytosis, often referred to as "cell drinking," is a form of endocytosis where the cell engulfs extracellular fluid and any dissolved nutrients or solutes present within it. This mechanism allows cells to intake small particles, including nutrients that are in solution, making it especially important for cells that rely on the absorption of substances from their immediate environment.

In contrast to pinocytosis, endocytosis encompasses various methods of taking substances into a cell, but specifically pinocytosis refers to the uptake of liquid. Exocytosis, on the other hand, is the process by which cells expel materials, the opposite of what is being asked in the question. Phagocytosis involves the ingestion of large particles or even other cells, which is not applicable when discussing the uptake of dissolved nutrients. Thus, pinocytosis is the specialized process that captures small, liquid nutrients released by neighboring cells effectively.