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phagocytosis

American  
[fag-uh-sahy-toh-sis] / ˌfæg ə saɪˈtoʊ sɪs /

noun

  1. Physiology. the ingestion of a smaller cell or cell fragment, a microorganism, or foreign particles by means of the local infolding of a cell's membrane and the protrusion of its cytoplasm around the fold until the material has been surrounded and engulfed by closure of the membrane and formation of a vacuole: characteristic of amebas and some types of white blood cells.

phagocytosis British  
/ ˌfæɡəsaɪˈtəʊsɪs /

noun

  1. the process by which a cell, such as a white blood cell, ingests microorganisms, other cells, and foreign particles

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of phagocytosis

First recorded in 1890–95; phagocyte + -osis

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Vocabulary lists containing phagocytosis

Cell Biology - High School

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Phagocytosis helps amoebae take up nutrients and pseudopodia help the amoebae move.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Phagocytosis helps amoebae to take up nutrients and cilia help amoebae move.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Phagocytosis executes delayed neuronal death after focal brain ischemia.

From Nature • Apr. 10, 2018

Phagocytosis is a kind of endocytosis in which extensions of the cell surround a particle and package it within a food vacuole.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

Phagocytosis: the destruction or devouring of bacteria or other microorganisms by phagocytes.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.