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ABO system

noun

Physiology. a classification of human blood based on the presence on the surface of red blood cells of one or both of two specific antigens, designated A and B, or their absence, designated O: every person has one of four possible inherited blood types, A, B, AB, or O, and has antibodies circulating in the blood that clump with any antigen that is not of that type, persons with type O thus being able to donate blood devoid of the antigens for transfusion to types A, B, and AB but able to receive only blood of type O.

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Origin of ABO system

First recorded in 1940–45
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
British Dictionary definitions for abo system

ABO system

noun

a system for classifying human blood on the basis of the presence or absence of two antigens on the red cell membrane: there are four such blood types (A, B, AB, and O)
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
Medicine definitions for abo system

ABO system

n.

A classification system for human blood that identifies four major blood types based on the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B, on red blood cells. The four blood types (A, B, AB, and O, in which O designates blood that lacks both antigens) are important in determining the compatability of blood for transfusion.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for abo system

ABO system

[ā′bē-ō′]

A classification system for human blood that identifies four major blood types based on the presence or absence of two antigens, A and B, on red blood cells. The four blood types (A, B, AB, and O, in which O designates blood that lacks both antigens) are important in determining the compatibility of blood for transfusion.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.