1. past tense of phagocytose; engulfed and digested (a particle or cell) by phagocytosis
Usage: biology; medical

Examples

• The white blood cells phagocytosed the harmful bacteria.
• Dead cells were phagocytosed by macrophages in the tissue.
• The immune system quickly phagocytosed the foreign particles.
• Researchers observed how the amoeba phagocytosed the smaller organisms.
• The infected material was phagocytosed and broken down by specialized cells.