phagocyte
noun
phago·cyte ˈfa-gə-ˌsīt 
: a cell (such as a macrophage or neutrophil) that engulfs and consumes foreign material (such as microorganisms) and debris (such as dead tissue cells)
phagocytic
ˌfa-gə-ˈsi-tik
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Metchnikoff didn’t immediately assume that these phagocytes are specialized for disease fighting and pathogen removal alone. 
Quanta Magazine, 11 Feb. 2020
Quanta Magazine, 11 Feb. 2020 Word History
Etymology
International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek phagein + New Latin -cyta -cyte
First Known Use
circa 1884, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing phagocyte
Medical Definition
phagocyte 1 of 2
noun
phago·cyte ˈfag-ə-ˌsīt
: a cell (as a macrophage or neutrophil) that engulfs and consumes foreign material (as microorganisms) and debris (as dead tissue cells)
phagocyte
2 of 2transitive verb
phagocyted; phagocyting
: phagocytose