platelet
noun
plate·let
| \ ˈplāt-lət
\
\
Definition of platelet
: a minute flattened body (as of ice or a mineral)
especially
: a minute colorless disklike body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium
— called also blood platelet, thrombocyte
Examples of platelet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are a few treatments, like platelet-rich plasma injections, that do work. — Ivana Rihter, Allure, "The Complete Guide to Hair Loss for Women," 22 Aug. 2019 In severe cases, preeclampsia can devolve into HELLP syndrome, which ACOG explains stands for hemolysis (damage to red blood cells), elevated liver enzymes (a sign of liver damage), and low platelet count (cells that help your blood clot). — Patia Braithwaite, SELF, "11 Health Conditions You Should Know About If You’re Black and Pregnant," 30 July 2019 Heath Hembree was to receive a platelet-rich plasma injection in his pitching elbow Tuesday, manager Alex Cora announced at the end of his pregame chat with reporters. — Matt Porter, BostonGlobe.com, "Red Sox injury updates on Heath Hembree and Steven Wright," 6 Aug. 2019 There, blood is drawn and centrifuged for at least 15 minutes at 2,200 to 2,500 rpm to separate the T cells from the plasma, platelets, and the rest. — Charles Graeber, WIRED, "How Scientists Built a ‘Living Drug’ to Beat Cancer," 25 July 2019 Jones was donating what’s known as platelets, tiny blood cells the body creates to clot and stop bleeding. — Christopher Harress | [email protected], al, "Mobile in need as national blood shortage ‘worst’ in 15 years," 25 July 2019 Her platelets — clotting cells within the blood — were dwindling. — Kate Thayer, chicagotribune.com, "Save a life in the next few days. Red Cross asks for blood platelet donations amid Chicago shortage.," 26 June 2019 According to the Mayo Clinic, ITP happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys platelets, which are cell fragments that help blood clot. — Christopher Brito, CBS News, "Once afraid of IVs, girl invents teddy bear pouches to hide them," 14 June 2019 When someone donates blood, it is separated into different components, including plasma, platelets and red blood cells, said Dr. Dennis Williams, the Kentucky Blood Center's medical director. — Morgan Watkins, The Courier-Journal, "U of L researchers develop freeze-dried blood that could save soldiers and astronauts," 12 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'platelet.' 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 platelet
platelet
noun
English Language Learners Definition of platelet
: a small, round, thin blood cell that helps blood to stop flowing from a cut by becoming thick and sticky
See the full definition for platelet in the English Language Learners Dictionary
platelet
noun
plate·let
| \ ˈplāt-lət
\
\
Kids Definition of platelet
: one of the tiny colorless disk-shaped bodies of the blood that assist in blood clotting
platelet
noun
plate·let
| \ ˈplāt-lət
\
\
Medical Definition of platelet
: a minute colorless anucleate disklike body of mammalian blood that is derived from fragments of megakaryocyte cytoplasm, that is released from the bone marrow into the blood, and that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium
— called also blood platelet, thrombocyte