platelet

noun

plate·​let ˈplāt-lət 

: a minute flattened body (as of ice or a mineral)

especially : a minute colorless disklike body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium

called also blood platelet, thrombocyte

Examples of platelet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bleeding and bruising: The damage to the kidney can lead to thrombocytopenia, which occurs when your blood has insufficient platelets that your body needs to use for blood clotting. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 25 Sep. 2024

Anticoagulants target clotting factors in the blood, whereas antiplatelets prevent platelets from clumping together. —Alex Yampolsky, Verywell Health, 20 Sep. 2024

The researchers, who published their findings in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal on Monday, examined if a COVID-19 infection led to changes in routine blood biomarkers, such as platelet counts or protein in the urine, that may be predictive of long COVID. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2024

The individuals who drank water mixed with erythritol were found 30 minutes later to have a higher level of proteins that are involved in platelet clumping compared to those who drank water mixed with glucose. —Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 12 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing platelet

• blood platelet

Kids Definition

platelet

noun

plate·​let ˈplāt-lət 

: one of the tiny colorless disk-shaped bodies of the blood of mammals that assist in blood clotting

Medical Definition

platelet

noun

plate·​let ˈplāt-lət 

: a minute colorless anucleate disklike body of mammalian blood that is derived from fragments of megakaryocyte cytoplasm, that is released from the bone marrow into the blood, and that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium

called also blood platelet, thrombocyte