English Explanatory Dictionary

macrophage

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A white blood cell that phagocytizes necrotic cell debris and foreign material, including viruses, bacteria, and tattoo ink. It presents foreign antigens on MHC II to lymphocytes. Part of the innate immune system.

Pronunciation

/ˈmækɹɔʊː.feɪd͡ʒ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Zazollo-macrophage.wav

Word forms

macrophage macrophages

Etymology

From macro- + -phage, both from Ancient Greek.

Related words

macrophagous macrophagy

Derived words

antimacrophage granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor intramacrophage macrophagal macrophageal macrophagelike macrophagic melanomacrophage nonmacrophage
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