blood cell

noun

1. any of the cellular elements of the blood, as white blood cells or red blood cells.

blood cell

noun

1. any of the cells that circulate in the blood See erythrocyte leucocyte

blood cell

1. A red blood cell or white blood cell that is contained in the blood.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blood cell¹

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

Angela's daughter Johanna had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia, a type of cancer which affects the white blood cells and bone marrow, at just 16 years old.

From BBC

The light-sensing abilities of cells in the retina are different in skillset to white blood cells that produce antibodies to fight infection.

From BBC

Her white blood cell count was critically high and her blood pressure perilously low — at one point, as Thurman got up to go to the bathroom, she fainted again and hit her head.

From Salon

The musician said she has multiple myeloma, which occurs when cancerous plasma cells build up in bone marrow and crowd out healthy blood cells, according to the Mayo Clinic.

From Los Angeles Times

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of blood cancer that affects white blood cells called lymphocytes, which form part of your immune system.

From BBC

Related Words

• red blood cell
• white blood cell