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phagocyte
noun
phago·cyte
ˈfa-gə-ˌsīt
: a cell (such as a macrophage or neutrophil) that engulfs and consumes foreign material (such as microorganisms) and debris (such as dead tissue cells)
Examples of phagocyte in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And eventually the cell just disintegrates and gets eaten by circulating phagocytes.
—
Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024
Some immune cells, like phagocytes, produce reactive oxygen species to kill microbes.
—
Merve Ceylan, Health, 21 Oct. 2024
The target cell breaks down to nothing inside the phagocyte without stimulating inflammation or other side effects.
—
William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2022
Metchnikoff didn’t immediately assume that these phagocytes are specialized for disease fighting and pathogen removal alone.
—
Quanta Magazine, 11 Feb. 2020
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Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek phagein + New Latin -cyta -cyte
First Known Use
circa 1884, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing phagocyte
Dictionary Entries Near phagocyte
Cite this Entry
“Phagocyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phagocyte. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
phagocyte
noun
phago·cyte
ˈfag-ə-ˌsīt
: a cell (as a white blood cell) that takes in and breaks down foreign material (as bacteria) and waste
Medical Definition
phagocyte
1 of 2 noun
phago·cyte
ˈfag-ə-ˌsīt
: a cell (as a macrophage or neutrophil) that engulfs and consumes foreign material (as microorganisms) and debris (as dead tissue cells)
More from Merriam-Webster on phagocyte
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about phagocyte
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