lymphocyte

[ lim-fuh-sahyt ]

nounAnatomy.
  1. a type of white blood cell having a large, spherical nucleus surrounded by a thin layer of nongranular cytoplasm.

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Origin of lymphocyte

1
First recorded in 1885–90; lympho- + -cyte

Other words from lymphocyte

  • lym·pho·cyt·ic [lim-fuh-sit-ik], /ˌlɪm fəˈsɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby lymphocyte

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How to use lymphocyte in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lymphocyte

lymphocyte

/ (ˈlɪmfəʊˌsaɪt) /


noun
  1. a type of white blood cell formed in lymphoid tissue: See also B-lymphocyte, T-lymphocyte

Derived forms of lymphocyte

  • lymphocytic (ˌlɪmfəʊˈsɪtɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for lymphocyte

lymphocyte

[ lĭmfə-sīt′ ]


  1. Any of various white blood cells, including B cells and T cells, that function in the body's immune system by recognizing and deactivating specific foreign substances called antigens. B cells act by stimulating the production of antibodies. T cells contain receptors on their cell surfaces that are capable of recognizing and binding to specific antigens. Lymphocytes are found in the lymph nodes and spleen and circulate continuously in the blood and lymph.

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