| Library / English Dictionary |
WHITE BLOOD CELL
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Blood cells that engulf and digest bacteria and fungi; an important part of the body's defense system
Synonyms:
leucocyte; leukocyte; WBC; white blood cell; white blood corpuscle; white cell; white corpuscle
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("white blood cell" is a kind of...):
blood cell; blood corpuscle; corpuscle (either of two types of cells (erythrocytes and leukocytes) and sometimes including platelets)
free phagocyte (a phagocyte that circulates in the blood)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "white blood cell"):
myelocyte (an immature leukocyte normally found in bone marrow)
myeloblast (a precursor of leukocytes that normally occurs only in bone marrow)
lymph cell; lymphocyte (an agranulocytic leukocyte that normally makes up a quarter of the white blood cell count but increases in the presence of infection)
granulocyte (a leukocyte that has granules in its cytoplasm)
monocyte (a type of granular leukocyte that functions in the ingestion of bacteria)
basophil; basophile (a leukocyte with basophilic granules easily stained by basic stains)
neutrophil; neutrophile (the chief phagocytic leukocyte; stains with either basic or acid dyes)
eosinophil; eosinophile (a leukocyte readily stained with eosin)
Context examples:
A protein made by plasma cells (a type of white blood cell) in response to an antigen (a substance that causes the body to make a specific immune response).
(Antibody, NCI Dictionary)
Obinutuzumab binds to a protein called CD20, which is found on B cells (a type of white blood cell) and some types of leukemia cells.
(Obinutuzumab, NCI Dictionary)
Any of a large group of cancers of lymphocytes (white blood cells).
(NHL, NCI Dictionary)
An NK cell is a type of white blood cell.
(NK cell, NCI Dictionary)
Plasma is the single largest component of blood and is the clear liquid that remains after the removal of red and white blood cells and platelets.
(Study highlights potential for ‘liquid health check’ to predict disease risk, University of Cambridge)
Blood progenitor cells produce red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
(An overlooked role for lungs in blood formation, NIH)
When APC8015F is injected into the patient, it may cause T cells (a type of white blood cell) to kill tumor cells that have PAP on them.
(APC8015F, NCI Dictionary)
A monocyte is a type of white blood cell and a type of phagocyte.
(Monocyte, NCI Dictionary)
Multiple myeloma is a cancer that begins in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell.
(Multiple Myeloma, NIH: National Cancer Institute)
Mifamurtide activates certain types of white blood cells and helps the immune system kill cancer cells.
(Mifamurtide, NCI Dictionary)
