basophil

[ bey-suh-fil ]
/ ˈbeɪ sə fɪl /

noun

Biology. a basophilic cell, tissue, organism, or substance.
Anatomy. a white blood cell having a two-lobed nucleus and basophilic granules in its cytoplasm.

adjective

Biology. basophilic.
Also ba·so·phile [bey-suh-fahyl, -fil] /ˈbeɪ səˌfaɪl, -fɪl/.

Origin of basophil

First recorded in 1885–90; bas(ic dye) + -o- + -phil

Definition for basophile (2 of 2)

basophilic
[ bey-suh-fil-ik ]
/ ˌbeɪ səˈfɪl ɪk /

adjective Biology.

having an affinity for basic stains.
Also ba·soph·i·lous [bey-sof-uh-luh s] /beɪˈsɒf ə ləs/, basophil, basophile.

Origin of basophilic

First recorded in 1890–95; basophil + -ic

Example sentences from the Web for basophile

British Dictionary definitions for basophile

basophil

basophile

/ (ˈbeɪsəfɪl) /

adjective Also: basophilic (ˌbeɪsəˈfɪlɪk)

(of cells or cell contents) easily stained by basic dyes

noun

a basophil cell, esp a leucocyte

Word Origin for basophil

C19: from Greek; see base 1 + -phile

Medical definitions for basophile

basophil
[ bāsə-fĭl ]

n.

A cell, especially a white blood cell, having granules that stain readily with basic dyes.