- T cell
- nouna small lymphocyte developed in the thymus; it orchestrates the immune system's response to infected or malignant cells• Syn: ↑T lymphocyte• Hypernyms: ↑lymphocyte, ↑lymph cell• Hyponyms:↑helper T cell, ↑helper cell, ↑CD4 T cell, ↑CD4 cell, ↑killer T cell, ↑killer cell, ↑cytotoxic T cell, ↑CD8 T cell, ↑CD8 cell
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nounUsage: usually capitalized T: any of several lymphocytes (as a helper T cell) that differentiate in the thymus, possess highly specific cell-surface antigen receptors, and include some that control the initiation or suppression of cell-mediated and humoral immunity (as by the regulation of T and B cell maturation and proliferation) and others that lyse antigen-bearing cells — called also T lymphocyte — see helper t cell herein cytotoxic t cell herein suppressor t cell herein t4 cell herein* * *
Immunol.any of several closely related lymphocytes, developed in the thymus, that circulate in the blood and lymph and orchestrate the immune system's response to infected or malignant cells, either by lymphokine secretions or by direct contact: helper T cells recognize foreign antigen on the surfaces of other cells, then they stimulate B cells to produce antibody and signal killer T cells to destroy the antigen-displaying cells; subsequently suppressor T cells return the immune system to normal by inactivating the B cells and killer T cells. Also called T lymphocyte.[1965-70; T(hymus-derived)]* * *
a type of white blood cell that helps the body to fight disease* * *
T cell, or T-cell «TEE SEHL», noun.a type of lymphocyte that attacks foreign bodies directly, destroying them chemically, derived from the thymus gland and distinguished from a B cell by its relatively smooth surface.* * *
(also T-cell) n. Physiology a lymphocyte of a type produced or processed by the thymus gland and actively participating in the immune response. Also called . Compare with B cellOrigin:
Useful english dictionary. 2012.
