macrophage

mac-ro-phage · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large white blood cell that engulfs and digests cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, and cancer cells in a process called phagocytosis.

  2. 2.

    Any of various cells in different tissues that perform similar protective functions.

Forms

plural: macrophages

Related words

See also: immunity, phagocyte, white blood cell
Synonyms: phagocyte

Etymology

From Greek makros meaning "large" + phagein meaning "to eat," literally "large eater."