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Glite Dictionary
to phagocytose

to phagocytose

9.9
Certain body cells surround and eat germs or dead cells
  • verb
  • /ˌfæɡəˈsaɪtoʊs/
  • UK
translation icon : fagocitar
  • During the immune response, some white blood cells phagocytose pathogens to eliminate them.

Examples

  • The macrophages and the neutrophils are cells that eat that phagocytose microbial cells and they deliver them then to the lysosomes for digestion.

  • The macrophages phagocytose bacteria to help protect the body from infection.

  • In a healthy body, immune cells phagocytose foreign invaders to keep the system functioning properly.

Synonyms

to phagocytize
vsto phagocytose
  • Specialized
9.9

To eat and break down tiny particles or bacteria inside the body, usually by white blood cells

has identical meaning but appears in an alternative spelling form

Surface Forms

phagocytose infinitive
phagocytosed past
phagocytosed past participle
phagocytosing present participle
phagocytoses third person singular

Morphology

phagocytose = phagocyte (opaque) = phago + cyto + ose

The formation is technical biomedical morphology (phagocyte + -ose); knowing the technical base 'phagocyte' is required to infer the verb, so it is not accessible to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

Phagocytose comes from Greek parts phago- 'eat' and cyto- 'cell', so it means 'cell-eating'. That's why we use it for immune cells that surround and digest bacteria or other particles to protect the body.