Definition

1. Noun:
   • A type of blood cell that is part of the immune system: A white blood cell is a cell in the blood that helps the body fight infections and diseases by attacking and destroying harmful bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances.

Usage

White blood cells are a crucial component of the body's immune response. They circulate in the blood and lymphatic system. A high or low count of these cells can indicate various medical conditions.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor said my white blood cell count is high, which suggests my body is fighting an infection.
  • White blood cells are produced in the bone marrow.

Advanced Usage

• "White blood cell differential": A laboratory test that counts the different types of white blood cells in a blood sample, providing detailed information about the immune system.
  • The white blood cell differential showed an elevated number of neutrophils.

Variants and Related Words

• Leukocyte (n): The scientific or medical term for a white blood cell.

  • Leukocytes are categorized into several types, including lymphocytes and monocytes.

• WBC (n): A common abbreviation for "white blood cell" or "white blood cell count," frequently used in medical contexts.

  • The patient's WBC was within the normal range.

Synonyms

• Leukocyte: The formal synonym.
• Immune cell: A broader term that includes white blood cells and other cells involved in immunity.

Related Phrases

• White blood cell count: The number of white blood cells in a given volume of blood, a standard part of a complete blood count (CBC) test.
  • Her white blood cell count returned to normal after the antibiotic treatment.

Noun

1. blood cells that engulf and digest bacteria and fungi; an important part of the body's defense system