phagocyte

noun

phago·​cyte ˈfa-gə-ˌsīt How to pronounce phagocyte (audio)
: a cell (such as a macrophage or neutrophil) that engulfs and consumes foreign material (such as microorganisms) and debris (such as dead tissue cells)
phagocytic adjective

Examples of phagocyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek phagein + New Latin -cyta -cyte

First Known Use

circa 1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of phagocyte was circa 1884

Dictionary Entries Near phagocyte

Cite this Entry

“Phagocyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phagocyte. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

phagocyte

noun
phago·​cyte ˈfag-ə-ˌsīt How to pronounce phagocyte (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce phagocyte (audio)
: a cell (as a macrophage or neutrophil) that engulfs and consumes foreign material (as microorganisms) and debris (as dead tissue cells)

phagocyte

2 of 2 transitive verb
phagocyted; phagocyting

More from Merriam-Webster on phagocyte

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