Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
white blood corpuscle

white blood corpuscle

3.9
A blood cell that helps protect the body by eating and killing bacteria and other germs
  • noun
  • /ˈwaɪt blʌd ˈkɔːrpəsəl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : glóbulo blanco
  • White blood corpuscles are essential for the immune system, as they help the body fight off infections.

Examples

  • When the body detects an infection, the number of white blood corpuscles increases to combat harmful microorganisms.

  • Doctors often examine white blood corpuscles to assess a patient's immune response to illnesses.

  • Obstinate is what you butter the disease germs with to make your white blood corpuscles eat them.

Synonyms

white blood cell
vswhite blood corpuscle
  • Specialized
22 2.5

A cell in the blood that helps the body fight infections

is specifically about engulfing and digesting bacteria and fungi rather than general fighting
white cell
vswhite blood corpuscle
9 3.3

A blood cell that eats and kills germs to protect the body

focuses on digesting inside the cell rather than broadly destroying threats
WBC
vswhite blood corpuscle
  • Specialized
7 3.5

A blood cell that eats bacteria and fungi to help fight infection

is the spelled-out name rather than the shortened form
leukocyte
vswhite blood corpuscle
  • Specialized
3 5.4

A white blood cell that helps the body fight infection by eating bacteria and fungi

is the everyday descriptive term rather than the medical name
white corpuscle
vswhite blood corpuscle
1 4.6

A blood cell that surrounds and destroys germs

is the more common phrasing rather than this alternative wording

Surface Forms

white blood corpuscle singular
white blood corpuscles plural

Morphology

white + blood + corpuscle

The meaning is directly compositional: 'white' (color) + 'blood' (in/of the blood) + 'corpuscle' (a blood cell) yields a blood cell that is white in appearance/function. This follows a literal, cross-linguistically common naming pattern (cf. 'white blood cell'), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

White blood corpuscle is a name made from clear parts: white (their color), blood (where they are), and corpuscle which means 'small body'. These small white bodies act like tiny guards that 'eat' and remove germs, so the name helps remember they 'protect' the body.