granulocyte

American  

[gran-yuh-loh-sahyt] / ˈgræn yə loʊˌsaɪt /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. a circulating white blood cell having prominent granules in the cytoplasm and a nucleus of two or more lobes.

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granulocyte British  

/ ˌɡrænjʊləˈsɪtɪk, ˈɡrænjʊləˌsaɪt /

noun

1. any of a group of phagocytic leucocytes having cytoplasmic granules that take up various dyes See also eosinophil neutrophil basophil

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granulocyte Scientific  

/ grăn′yə-lō-sīt′ /

1. Any of various white blood cells that contain granular material in the cytoplasm and are immunologically active, especially in phagocytosis. Granulocytes are the most numerous of the white blood cells in humans.

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Other Word Forms

• granulocytic adjective

Etymology

Origin of granulocyte

First recorded in 1905–10; granule + -o- + -cyte

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, when exposed to G-CSF, long bones rapidly increased formation of granulocyte progenitors and mature neutrophils.

From Science Daily • Mar. 20, 2024

"Currently, the main treatment for low white blood cell counts is G-CSF, or granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, which is produced by the body and can be administered as a drug," said Jaschke.

From Science Daily • Jan. 31, 2024

Revision of the human hematopoietic tree: granulocyte subtypes derive from distinct hematopoietic lineages.

From Nature • Jan. 23, 2018

A granulocyte contains cytoplasmic granules, which in turn contain a variety of vasoactive mediators such as histamine.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

One common infection, Dr. Zubrod said, exerts its deadly effects because the child lacks a form of white blood cell known as the granulocyte.

From Time Magazine Archive