Phagocyte

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  phagocyte \phag"o*cyte\ (f[a^]g"[-o]*s[imac]t), n. [Gr. fagei^n
     to eat + ky`tos a hollow vessel.] (Physiol.)
     A leucocyte which plays a part in immunity and retrogressive
     processes by taking up (eating), in the form of fine
     granules, foreign objects such as bacteria or cellular parts
     to be removed. There are two principle subtypes, (1)


     {microphages}, polymorphonuclear lymphocytes which
     principally digest bacteria; and (2) {macrophages},
     mononucleated cells which primarily scavenge dead tissue and
     degenerate cells. --Stedman.
     [1913 Webster + PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  phagocyte
       n : a cell that engulfs and digests debris and invading
           microorganisms [syn: {scavenger cell}]