1 heterophil | Definition of heterophil

heterophile

adjective
het·​ero·​phile | \ ˈhe-tÉ™-rÉ™-ËŒfÄ«(-É™)l How to pronounce heterophile (audio) \
variants: or heterophil \ ˈhe-​tÉ™-​rÉ™-​ËŒfil How to pronounce heterophil (audio) \

Definition of heterophile

: of, relating to, or being an antibody circulating in blood serum that is reactive with antigen originating in a different species

First Known Use of heterophile

1920, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for heterophile

heterophile

adjective
het·​ero·​phile | \ ˈhet-É™-rÉ™-ËŒfÄ«l How to pronounce heterophile (audio) \
variants: also heterophil \ -​ËŒfil How to pronounce heterophil (audio) \ or heterophilic \ ËŒhet-​É™-​rÉ™-​ˈfil-​ik How to pronounce heterophilic (audio) \

Medical Definition of heterophile

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: of, relating to, or being an antibody circulating in blood serum that is reactive with usually weak antigen originating in a different species Even though heterophile antibodies have nothing to do with EBV [Epstein-Barr virus] … heterophile antibody tests remain the principal method to diagnose IM [infectious mononucleosis] … — Carey-Ann D. Burnham et al., in The Immunoassay Handbook: Theory and applications of ligand binding, ELISA and related techniques, 2013

heterophile

noun
variants: or heterophil

Medical Definition of heterophile (Entry 2 of 2)

: neutrophil used especially in veterinary medicine

More from Merriam-Webster on heterophile

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with heterophile