phagocytosis

[ fag-uh-sahy-toh-sis ]

noun

1. Physiology. the ingestion of a smaller cell or cell fragment, a microorganism, or foreign particles by means of the local infolding of a cell's membrane and the protrusion of its cytoplasm around the fold until the material has been surrounded and engulfed by closure of the membrane and formation of a vacuole: characteristic of amebas and some types of white blood cells.

phagocytosis

/ ˌfæɡəsaɪˈtəʊsɪs /

noun

1. the process by which a cell, such as a white blood cell, ingests microorganisms, other cells, and foreign particles

Word History and Origins

Origin of phagocytosis¹

First recorded in 1890–95; phagocyte + -osis

Example Sentences

While the phenomenon of "frustrated phagocytosis" had already been observed, its role in the pathogenesis of the concerned diseases had not yet been clearly established.

From Science Daily

In addition, Yang also found gene-expression changes in microglia, which clean up waste and eat dead cells in a process called phagocytosis.

From Scientific American

The volunteers produced a range of antibodies that bound specifically to different HIV strains, and the researchers saw clear evidence of phagocytosis, in which immune cells surround and digest cells infected with the HIV virus.

From Nature

The cells are engulfed by a process that has molecular characteristics of phagocytosis, an engulfment process that immune cells use.

From Nature

The cells are engulfed by a process that has molecular characteristics of phagocytosis, an engulfment process that immune cells use.

From Nature