monocyte

[ mon-uh-sahyt ]
/ ˈmɒn əˌsaɪt /

noun Cell Biology.

a large, circulating white blood cell, formed in bone marrow and in the spleen, that ingests large foreign particles and cell debris.

Origin of monocyte

First recorded in 1910–15; mono- + -cyte

OTHER WORDS FROM monocyte

mon·o·cyt·ic [mon-uh-sit-ik] /ˌmɒn əˈsɪt ɪk/, adjective mon·o·cy·toid, adjective

Words nearby monocyte

monocular, monocular diplopia, monoculture, monocycle, monocyclic, monocyte, monocytic leukemia, monocytic leukocytosis, monocytopenia, monocytosis, monod

British Dictionary definitions for monocyte

monocyte
/ (ˈmɒnəʊˌsaɪt) /

noun

a large phagocytic leucocyte with a spherical nucleus and clear cytoplasm

Derived forms of monocyte

monocytic (ˌmɒnəˈsɪtɪk), adjective monocytoid, adjective

Medical definitions for monocyte

monocyte
[ mŏn′ə-sīt′ ]

n.

A large, circulating, phagocytic white blood cell that has a single well-defined nucleus and very fine granulation in the cytoplasm and that constitutes from 3 to 8 percent of the white blood cells in humans.

Other words from monocyte

mon′o•cyt′ic (-sĭt′ĭk) null adj.

Scientific definitions for monocyte

monocyte
[ mŏn′ə-sīt′ ]

Any of various large white blood cells that are formed in the bone marrow, circulate in the blood, and destroy pathogenic bacteria by phagocytosis. Monocytes develop into macrophages in various body tissues.