opsonin

[ op-suh-nin ]

nounImmunology.
  1. a constituent of normal or immune blood serum that makes invading bacteria more susceptible to the destructive action of the phagocytes.

Origin of opsonin

1
1900–05; <Latin opsōn(ium) victuals (<Greek opsōnía, derivative of opsōneîn to buy provisions) + -in2

Other words from opsonin

  • op·so·noid, adjective

Words Nearby opsonin

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How to use opsonin in a sentence

  • They appear to be more or less specific, a separate opsonin being necessary for phagocytosis of each species of bacteria.

    A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis | James Campbell Todd
  • opsonin is what you butter the disease germs with to make your white blood corpuscles eat them.

    The Doctor's Dilemma | George Bernard Shaw
  • The "opsonin," or "relish," is something exuded into or produced in the blood fluid when the attacking microbe arrives.

    More Science From an Easy Chair | Sir E. Ray (Edwin Ray) Lankester
  • Wright proposed for these bodies the name opsonin, derived from a Greek word signifying to prepare a meal for.

    The Fundamentals of Bacteriology | Charles Bradfield Morrey
  • In the case of diphtheria, the antitoxin appears to be more efficacious than an opsonin.

British Dictionary definitions for opsonin

opsonin

/ (ˈɒpsənɪn) /


noun
  1. a constituent of blood serum that renders invading bacteria more susceptible to ingestion by phagocytes in the serum

Origin of opsonin

1
C20: from Greek opsōnion victuals

Derived forms of opsonin

  • opsonic (ɒpˈsɒnɪk), adjective

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