phagocytose

verb

phago·cy·tose ˈfa-gə-sə-ˌtōs

-sī-,

-ˌtōz

phagocytosed; phagocytosing

transitive verb

: to consume by phagocytosis

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from phagocytosis

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of phagocytose was in 1905

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

phagocytize

phagocytose

phagocytosis

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Phagocytose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phagocytose. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

phagocytose

transitive verb

phago·cy·tose -ˌtōs, -ˌtōz

phagocytosed; phagocytosing

: to consume by phagocytosis

Popular in Grammar & Usage

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

What do SCOTUS, POTUS, and FLOTUS mean?

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

More Words with Remarkable Origins

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Popular Features

phagocytose

verb

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

permeate