SINCE 1828
phagocytosis
noun
phago·cy·to·sis
| \ ˌfa-gə-sə-ˈtō-səs,
-sī-\
-sī-\
plural phagocytoses\ ˌfa-gə-sə-ˈtō-ˌsēz ,
-sī-
\
-sī-
\
Definition of phagocytosis
: the engulfing and usually the destruction of particulate matter by phagocytes that serves as an important bodily defense mechanism against infection by microorganisms and against occlusion of mucous surfaces or tissues by foreign particles and tissue debris
Other Words from phagocytosis
phagocytotic
\ ˌfa-gə-sə-ˈtä-tik ,
-sī-
\
adjective
-sī-
\
adjective
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for phagocytosis
phagocytosis
noun
phago·cy·to·sis
| \ ˌfag-ə-sə-ˈtō-səs, -sī-
\
\
plural phagocytoses\ -ˌsēz
\
\
Medical Definition of phagocytosis
: the engulfing and usually the destruction of particulate matter by phagocytes that serves as an important bodily defense mechanism against infection by microorganisms and against occlusion of mucous surfaces or tissues by foreign particles and tissue debris
Other Words from phagocytosis
phagocytotic
\ -ˈtät-ik
\
adjective
\
adjective
Comments on phagocytosis
What made you want to look up phagocytosis? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Homophone Quiz
-
- In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a
______.
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Homophone Quiz
More/moor than/then two/too/to.
Take the quiz -
Liar, Liar Quiz
Test your knowledge of words for lies, liars, and those being lied to. In other words, everyone.
Take the quiz -
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz -
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Play the game
Share phagocytosis
Resources for phagocytosis