basophil
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of white blood cell: A basophil is a granulocyte (a leukocyte with granules in its cytoplasm) whose granules stain readily with basic dyes. Basophils are involved in inflammatory and allergic reactions.
Usage
- Basophils are a component of the immune system.
- The term is used primarily in medical, biological, and hematological contexts to describe a specific cell type.
- It is often discussed in relation to blood tests, immune responses, and conditions like allergies or asthma.
Examples
- Noun:
- A high count of basophils in a blood test may indicate an allergic response.
- The scientist studied the role of the basophil in the inflammatory process.
- Histamine is one of the chemicals released by basophils.
Advanced Usage
- Basophil activation test: A laboratory test used to diagnose allergies by measuring the activation of basophils when exposed to a suspected allergen.
- The basophil activation test is a useful tool for diagnosing drug allergies.
Variants and Related Words
- Basophilic (adjective): Referring to cells, tissues, or substances that are easily stained by basic dyes.
- The cytoplasm showed basophilic staining under the microscope.
- Basophilia (noun): An increase in the number of basophils in the blood.
- The patient's basophilia was linked to a chronic inflammatory condition.
Synonyms
- Basophilic granulocyte: A more descriptive technical synonym.
- Mast cell (related concept): A similar type of cell found in tissues (not in circulation) that also releases histamine and is involved in allergic responses. While functionally related, a mast cell is not a synonym for a basophil, as they are distinct cell types.
Notes on Meaning
The word "basophil" has a single, specific meaning in biology and medicine. It is derived from its staining characteristic: "baso-" (attracted to base/basic dyes) + "-phil" (loving or having an affinity for). It does not have idiomatic or phrasal verb uses.
Noun
-
a leukocyte with basophilic granules easily stained by basic stains
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