macrophage
noun
mac·ro·phage
| \ ˈma-krə-ˌfāj
\
\
Definition of macrophage
: a phagocytic tissue cell of the immune system that may be fixed or freely motile, is derived from a monocyte, functions in the destruction of foreign antigens (such as bacteria and viruses), and serves as an antigen-presenting cell — compare histiocyte
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Other Words from macrophage
macrophagic
\ ˌma-krə-ˈfa-jik
\
adjective
\
adjective
Examples of macrophage in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Lungs—and subsequently the rest of the body—are protected from these contaminants by a thin layer of lipids that coat the lungs and some very important cells called macrophages. — Wired, "Vaping May Hamper the Lungs' Ability to Fend off Infections," 4 Sep. 2019 For instance, one pair of proteins involved in the clock, REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ, tightly control the expression of genes key to the function of macrophages, the body’s attack cells. — Quanta Magazine, "The Body’s Clock Offers a Rhythmic Target to Viruses," 30 May 2019 The wound current calls out to the surrounding tissue, attracting helpers like healing agents, macrophages to mop up the mess, and collagen-weaving repair cells called fibroblasts. — Sally Adee, Quartz, "Our bodies are full of electricity that could help us fight cancer," 30 May 2019 Or macrophages, the cleanup crew of the bloodstream? — William Poor, The Verge, "How deaf researchers are reinventing science communication," 11 Dec. 2018 For the cultured cells, exposure to e-cigarette vapor induced many of the same changes in lung macrophages that have been seen in cigarette smokers and patients with COPD, the researchers note. — Fox News, "E-cigarette vapor tied to changes in lung cells," 15 Aug. 2018 To determine what effect vaporizing might have, Thickett and his colleagues extracted macrophages from lung tissue samples from eight non-smokers who had never had asthma or COPD. — Fox News, "E-cigarette vapor tied to changes in lung cells," 15 Aug. 2018 Cancer cells avoid destruction by macrophages in two ways. — Martin Finucane, BostonGlobe.com, "Brigham and Women’s researchers take another step toward using immune system to fight cancer," 2 July 2018 Her subject was macrophages, big, hungry cells on the front lines of the defense. — Judith Shulevitz, New York Times, "Is Our Obsession With Wellness Doing Us In?," 11 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'macrophage.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for macrophage
macrophage
noun
mac·ro·phage
| \ ˈmak-rə-ˌfāj
, -ˌfäzh
\
, -ˌfäzh
\
Medical Definition of macrophage
: a phagocytic tissue cell of the immune system that may be fixed or freely motile, is derived from a monocyte, functions in the destruction of foreign antigens (as bacteria and viruses), and serves as an antigen-presenting cell — see histiocyte, mononuclear phagocyte system
Other Words from macrophage
macrophagic
\ ˌmak-rə-ˈfaj-ik
\
adjective
\
adjective