1. engulfs and destroys harmful substances or cellular debris through the process of phagocytosis
Usage: biology; third person singular present

1. plural form of phagocytosis, the process by which cells engulf and digest foreign particles
Usage: biology; plural

Examples

• The white blood cell phagocytoses the invading bacteria.
• A macrophage phagocytoses dead tissue cells to clean up the wound.
• The immune cell phagocytoses the virus particles before they can spread.
• Multiple phagocytoses occur simultaneously during an immune response.
• Scientists observed how the cell phagocytoses foreign material under the microscope.
• The process phagocytoses harmful toxins from the bloodstream.