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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 23 Dec. 2024.
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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