foam cell

noun

: a swollen vacuolated macrophage filled with lipid inclusions that often accumulates along arterial walls and is characteristic of some conditions of disturbed lipid metabolism

Word History

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

foam cell

noun

: a swollen vacuolated macrophage filled with lipid inclusions that often accumulates along arterial walls and is characteristic of some conditions of disturbed lipid metabolism