phagocytosis

[ fag-uh-sahy-toh-sis ]
/ ˌfæg ə saɪˈtoʊ sɪs /

noun

Physiology. the ingestion of a smaller cell or cell fragment, a microorganism, or foreign particles by means of the local infolding of a cell's membrane and the protrusion of its cytoplasm around the fold until the material has been surrounded and engulfed by closure of the membrane and formation of a vacuole: characteristic of amebas and some types of white blood cells.
Compare endocytosis, exocytosis, pinocytosis.

Origin of phagocytosis

First recorded in 1890–95; phagocyte + -osis

Words nearby phagocytosis

phagocytic pneumonocyte, phagocytin, phagocytize, phagocytolysis, phagocytose, phagocytosis, phagolysosome, phagomania, phagosome, phainopepla, phaistos

Example sentences from the Web for phagocytosis

British Dictionary definitions for phagocytosis

phagocytosis
/ (ˌfæɡəsaɪˈtəʊsɪs) /

noun

the process by which a cell, such as a white blood cell, ingests microorganisms, other cells, and foreign particles

Medical definitions for phagocytosis

phagocytosis
[ făg′ə-sī-tō′sĭs ]

n.

The engulfing and ingestion of bacteria or other foreign bodies by phagocytes.

Other words from phagocytosis

phag′o•cy•tot′ic (-tŏt′ĭk) adj.