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Glite Dictionary
gamma globulin

gamma globulin

1 7.6
Proteins in the blood that help the body fight infection
  • noun
  • /ˈɡæmə ˈɡlɒb.jʊ.lɪn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : globulina gamma
  • Within the last few days, Dr. Travell has been inferring that all the recent improvements in X's condition are due to the fact that he is now getting gamma globulin and injections of vitamins.

And one time and maybe more than one, the needle went all the way through my arm and gamma globulin went down my chest.

Examples

  • Many healthcare providers use gamma globulin treatments to improve patients' resistance to illness.

  • And one time and maybe more than one, the needle went all the way through my arm and gamma globulin went down my chest.

    Danny Jones

  • Maybe give me gamma globulin?

    Outbreak (1995)

  • The whole family had to go to the doctor's office for gamma globulin injections.

    Fiction book (2001)

  • The next day we went to the hospital for Anti-D gamma globulin, as I'm Rh negative and my husband is Rh positive (and the baby too).

    Fiction book (1998)

  • In addition, human gamma globulin and monoclonal antibodies have prophylactic and therapeutic effects in mice infected with Bordetella pertussis.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The doctor recommended a gamma globulin injection to strengthen my immune system.

  • After her surgery, she received gamma globulin to help fight off infections.

Synonyms

Ig
vsgamma globulin
  • Specialized
4 8.1

A protein made by the body that helps fight infection

is the fuller plasma protein class mainly made up of those antibody proteins
immunoglobulin
vsgamma globulin
  • Specialized
3 7.0

A protein made by the body that acts as an antibody to fight germs

is the plasma protein class that consists largely of those antibody molecules
immune globulin
vsgamma globulin
  • Specialized
1 5.3

Proteins that the body makes to help fight infections

is the plasma protein group that is chiefly composed of those antibody proteins
immune gamma globulin
vsgamma globulin
  • Specialized
5.2

A blood protein made by the body to fight infections

is the plasma protein category that mainly consists of those antibody proteins
human gamma globulin
vsgamma globulin
  • Specialized
4.9

A protein from human blood that helps the body fight infections

is the general plasma protein class not limited to humans
serum globulin
vsgamma globulin
  • Specialized
5.9

Proteins in the liquid part of blood that include most antibodies that help fight infection

is a narrower plasma protein class focused mainly on antibody molecules

Surface Forms

gamma globulin singular
gamma globulins plural

Morphology

gamma + globulin

The phrase is compositionally built from 'gamma' (a Greek-letter label indicating a subclass) and 'globulin' (a type of protein), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it refers to a kind of globulin/protein. However, the precise medical sense (i.e., that it denotes immunoglobulins in plasma that play a role in immunity) is specialized domain knowledge and not fully predictable from the parts for an average B1 learner, so the transparency is partial.

Etymology

Gamma globulin comes from old lab tests where blood proteins were split into bands and the third band, called gamma, held small round proteins called globulins or 'antibodies' that fight infection. So today gamma globulin refers to those antibodies, or to a shot of those proteins that helps the body's immune system.