immunology

im·mu·nol·o·gy

noun \ˌi-myə-ˈnä-lə-jē\

Definition of IMMUNOLOGY

: a science that deals with the immune system and the cell-mediated and humoral aspects of immunity and immune responses

— im·mu·no·log·ic \-nə-ˈlä-jik\ or im·mu·no·log·i·cal \-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

— im·mu·no·log·i·cal·ly \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— im·mu·nol·o·gist \ˌi-myə-ˈnä-lə-jist\ noun

Origin of IMMUNOLOGY

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use: 1910

Rhymes with IMMUNOLOGY

cosmetology, etymology, genealogy, martyrology, phraseology, radiology

im·mu·nol·o·gy

noun \ˌim-yə-ˈnäl-ə-jē\   (Medical Dictionary)

plural ; im·mu·nol·o·gies

Medical Definition of IMMUNOLOGY

: a science that deals with the immune system and the cell-mediated and humoral aspects of immunity and immune responses

—im·mu·no·log·ic \-yən-^əl-ˈäj-ik\ (audio pronunciation) or im·mu·no·log·i·cal \-ˈäj-i-kəl\ (audio pronunciation) adjective

—im·mu·no·log·i·cal·ly \-i-k(ə-)lē\ (audio pronunciation) adverb

immunology

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Science dealing with the body's defenses against disease-causing microorganisms and disorders of those defenses. Starting with Edward Jenner's use of a vaccine against smallpox in 1796, immunology has arrived at a comprehensive and sophisticated understanding of the role of microorganisms in disease and of the formation, mobilization, action, and interaction of antibodies and antigen-reactive cells. It covers treatment of allergies, immunosuppression after organ transplants to prevent rejection, and study of autoimmune diseases and immunodeficiencies. AIDS has stimulated intensive research in the last of these.