pinocytosis

[ pin-uh-sahy-toh-sis, pahy-nuh- ]

/ ˌpɪn ə saɪˈtoʊ sɪs, ˌpaɪ nə- /

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noun Physiology.

the transport of fluid into a cell by means of local infoldings by the cell membrane so that a tiny vesicle or sac forms around each droplet, which is then taken into the interior of the cytoplasm: Some drugs, such as penicillin, are unable to cross biological barriers unless they make use of carrier proteins or are taken across by pinocytosis.

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Origin of pinocytosis

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Greek pín(ein) “to drink” + -o- + -cyte + -osis, on the model of phagocytosis

OTHER WORDS FROM pinocytosis

pin·o·cy·tot·ic

[pin-uh-sahy-tot-ik, pahy-nuh-], /ˌpɪn ə saɪˈtɒt ɪk, ˌpaɪ nə-/, adjective