platelet

[ pleyt-lit ]

noun

, Cell Biology.

1. a small platelike body, especially a blood platelet.

platelet

/ ˈpleɪtlɪt /

noun

1. a minute cell occurring in the blood of vertebrates and involved in clotting of the blood Formerly calledthrombocyte

platelet

/ plāt′lĭt /

1. Any of the numerous small, round cell fragments found in the blood of mammals that function in the clotting of blood. Platelets contain no nuclei and are formed in the bone marrow from precursor cells called megakaryocytes . Platelets contribute to the coagulation process by adhering to damaged blood vessels, fibrinogen, and other platelets. An inadequate number of platelets leads to uncontrolled bleeding.

Word History and Origins

Origin of platelet¹

First recorded in 1890–95; plate ¹ + -let

Word History and Origins

Origin of platelet¹

C19: a small plate

Example Sentences

Of 23 patients who received AstraZeneca’s jab and had symptoms of clots or low platelets, 21 tested positive for antibodies to PF4, researchers report April 16 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

From Science News

What makes the cases so unusual is the pairing with low platelets, the blood cells involved in clotting.

From Washington Post

What stood out to scientists and physicians was that these clots were accompanied by very low levels of platelets, the blood cells involved in clotting.

From Washington Post

It’s combined with that other rare condition of the low platelets.

From FiveThirtyEight

The agencies’ concerns come after six instances of women, all between the ages of 18 and 60, who had developed rare blood clots near their brains and low platelet counts shortly after getting the shot.

From Quartz

Aspirin fails to reduce platelet production in aspirant-resistant individuals.

From The Daily Beast

A single platelet lying upon a red corpuscle may easily be mistaken for a malarial parasite (Plate VI).

From Project Gutenberg

Platelet: a little plate or sclerite of chitin in a membrane.

From Project Gutenberg