B cell

noun

: any of the lymphocytes that have antigen-binding antibody molecules on the surface, that comprise the antibody-secreting plasma cells when mature, and that in mammals differentiate in the bone marrow : b lymphocyte

The glycoproteins produced by B cells, called antibodies or immunoglobulins, recognize and bind free antigens and are responsible for humoral immunity …

—Haruo Saito et al.

… helper T cells that induce the proliferation of the antibody-producing B cells.

—N. A. Mitchison

… patients have no mature B cells circulating in the bloodstream and no antibodies to fight off infections.

—Jean Marx

compare t cell

Examples of B cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

A number of simpler strategies for killing B cells are now making their way from blood cancer to autoimmune disease. —Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2024

These cells, the offspring of B cells, primarily reside in the bone marrow. —Byjon Cohen, science.org, 11 Oct. 2024

Another challenge is that these B cells don’t actually produce broadly neutralizing responses at first. —Annalisa Merelli and Jonathan Wosen, STAT, 17 May 2024

Multiple myeloma is a blood cancer that impacts plasma B cells, a type of white blood cell found in the bone marrow. —William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 13 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

B probably from bursa-derived (produced by the bursa of Fabricius)

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

B cell

noun

ˈbē-ˌsel

: any of the lymphocytes that produce antigen-binding antibodies and that arise and mature in the bone marrow compare t cell

Medical Definition

B cell

noun

: any of the lymphocytes that have antigen-binding antibody molecules on the surface, that comprise the antibody-secreting plasma cells when mature, and that in mammals differentiate in the bone marrow

called also B lymphocyte

compare t cell