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Glite Dictionary
🦠 To eat cells 🧲 To absorb fully
to phagocytize

to phagocytize

9.9
To take over and make part of a larger organization, for example when a company buys another
  • verb
  • /ˈfæɡəˌsɪtaɪz/
  • US
translation icon : fagocitar
  • The larger company aimed to phagocytize its smaller competitors to dominate the industry.

Examples

  • The new policy allowed the agency to phagocytize several independent departments.

  • The larger company aimed to phagocytize its smaller competitors to dominate the industry.

  • White blood cells phagocytize harmful bacteria to protect the body from infection.

  • The immune system can phagocytize harmful bacteria.

  • Bacteria are phagocytised by immune cells during an infection.

  • White blood cells phagocytize harmful bacteria to protect the body from infection.

  • The new policy allowed the agency to phagocytize several independent departments.

Synonyms

incorporate
vsto phagocytize
1 4.9

Joined together to make one whole

is more forceful, meaning to absorb or engulf something completely

Surface Forms

phagocytize infinitive
phagocytized past
phagocytized past participle
phagocytizing present participle
phagocytizes third person singular

Morphology

phagocytize = phagocyte (semi-transparent) = phagocyte + ize

The verb is formed from 'phagocyte' + '-ize' but the figurative extension to organizations or entities absorbing others is a metaphorical shift that may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Phagocytize comes from Greek phagein 'to eat' and kytos 'cell'. A helpful way to remember the figurative use is to think of a larger group 'eating' a smaller one, so to phagocytize something is to absorb or swallow it up and make it part of itself.