serum globulin
- noun
- /ˈsɪrəm ˈɡlɒb.jʊ.lɪn/
- Specialized
:
globulina sérica
- Doctors often measure serum globulin to evaluate a patient's immune function.
Examples
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A blood test revealed an elevated level of serum globulin, indicating a possible infection.
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Reduced serum globulin can be a sign of liver disease or other health problems.
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The serum globulin levels in his blood were tested.
-
Doctors often measure serum globulin to assess immune function.
-
A blood test revealed an elevated level of serum globulin, indicating a possible infection.
-
Doctors often measure serum globulin to evaluate a patient's immune function.
-
Reduced serum globulin can be a sign of liver disease or other health problems.
Synonyms
4
8.1
A protein in blood, milk, or seeds that helps fight infection and carry substances
3
7.0
A protein made by the body that acts as an antibody to fight germs
1
5.3
Proteins that the body makes to help fight infections
1
7.6
Proteins in the blood that help the body fight infection
A protein from human blood that helps the body fight infections
A blood protein made by the body to fight infections
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'serum' (the clear blood fluid) combined with 'globulin' (a class of proteins) yields the proteins present in blood serum. This follows a regular noun–noun compounding pattern common across languages; even though it is medical terminology, a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings can infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
Serum globulin comes from serum, the clear part of the blood, and globulin, a word for small, round 'globe' proteins. Picture tiny round fighters floating in that clear blood called 'antibodies', so serum globulin means the round proteins in blood serum that include most 'antibodies'.