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gamma globulin
noun
1
: a protein fraction of blood rich in antibodies
2
: a sterile solution of gamma globulin from pooled human blood administered especially for passive immunity against measles, German measles, infectious hepatitis, or polio
Examples of gamma globulin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The image showed children lined up to receive gamma globulin shots, not the polio vaccine.
—New York Times, 19 Aug. 2022
Convalescent plasma or gamma globulin — antibodies distilled from the blood of healthy donors — may also help immunocompromised people, although a version of the latter that includes antibodies to the coronavirus is still months from availability.
—Apoorva Mandavilli New York Times, Star Tribune, 22 Apr. 2021
That included infusions of gamma globulin every three weeks.
—New York Times, 15 Apr. 2021
If treated promptly, with fever-reducing drugs and intravenous gamma globulin — which contains antibodies from blood plasma — Kawasaki disease usually has few long-term effects.
—Matt Schudel, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2020
Jessica received monthly gamma globulin infusions for the last three years.
—Nancy Coltun Webster, Post-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2018
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Word History
First Known Use
1937, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near gamma globulin
Cite this Entry
“Gamma globulin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamma%20globulin. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
gamma globulin
noun1
: a part of blood plasma that is rich in antibodies
2
: a solution of gamma globulin made by mixing blood from human blood donors and given to provide immunity against some infectious diseases (as measles and German measles)
Medical Definition
gamma globulin
noun1
a
: a protein fraction of blood rich in antibodies
b
: a sterile solution of gamma globulin from pooled human blood administered especially for passive immunity against measles, German measles, hepatitis A, or polio
2
: any of numerous globulins of blood plasma or serum that have less electrophoretic mobility at alkaline pH than serum albumins, alpha globulins, or beta globulins and that include most antibodies
More from Merriam-Webster on gamma globulin
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gamma globulin
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