myelocyte

noun

my·​e·​lo·​cyte ˈmī-ə-lə-ˌsīt How to pronounce myelocyte (audio)
: a bone-marrow cell
especially : a motile cell with cytoplasmic granules that gives rise to the granulocytes of the blood and occurs abnormally in the circulating blood (as in myelogenous leukemia)
myelocytic adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Myelocyt, from myelo- myelo- + -cyt -cyte

Note: In the given sense the term was apparently introduced by Paul ehrlich in "Ueber die Bedeutung der neutrophilen Körnung," Charité-Annalen, 12. Jahrgang (1887), p. 295. In the text of the article the word is spelled Myklozythen (plural) for expected Myelocythen, presumably as a result of a typesetting error.

First Known Use

1891, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of myelocyte was in 1891

Dictionary Entries Near myelocyte

Cite this Entry

“Myelocyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myelocyte. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

myelocyte

noun
my·​e·​lo·​cyte ˈmī-ə-lə-ˌsīt How to pronounce myelocyte (audio)
: a bone marrow cell
especially : a motile cell with cytoplasmic granules that gives rise to the blood granulocytes and occurs abnormally in the circulating blood (as in myelogenous leukemia)
myelocytic adjective
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!