leukocyte Hear it!

leukocyte definition

leuko·cyte (lo̵̅o̅′kō sīt′, -kə-)

noun

any of the small, colorless nucleated cells in the blood, lymph, and tissues, which are important in the body's defenses against infection, including granular types such as neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils, and nongranular types such as lymphocytes and monocytes; white blood cell

Etymology: see leuco- & -cyte

Related Forms:

  • leukocytic leu′ko·cyt′ic (-sit′ik) adjective
  • leukocytoid leu′ko·cy′·toid′ (-sī′to̵id′) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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