Main Entry: phago·cyte

Pronunciation: \ˈfa-gə-ˌsīt\

Function: noun

Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek phagein + New Latin -cyta -cyte

Date: circa 1884

: a cell (as a white blood cell) that engulfs and consumes foreign material (as microorganisms) and debris

— phago·cyt·ic \ˌfa-gə-ˈsi-tik\ adjective