mast cell

noun

: a granulocyte that occurs especially in connective tissue and has basophilic granules containing substances (such as histamine and heparin) which mediate allergic reactions

Examples of mast cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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At the heart of these symptoms is a powerful—but often overlooked—player in the immune system: the mast cell. John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Apr. 2025 Chemotherapy or stem cell transplant: Used in severe cases like mast cell leukemia.7 Systemic Mastocytosis Triggers Mastocytosis can worsen due to triggers that prompt mast cells to release histamine and other chemicals. Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 15 July 2024 Scratching promotes allergic inflammation and host defense via neurogenic mast cell activation Avery Hurt is a freelance science journalist. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 29 Mar. 2025 The activation of mast cells can frequently lead to inflammation and the itch response thanks to their recruitment of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell also involved with the body's immune response. Michael Franco, New Atlas, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mast cell

Word History

Etymology

partial translation of German Mastzelle, from Mast food, mast (from Old High German) + Zelle cell

First Known Use

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mast cell was circa 1890

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Cite this Entry

“Mast cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mast%20cell. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Medical Definition

mast cell

noun
: a granulocyte that occurs especially in connective tissue and has basophilic granules containing substances (as histamine and heparin) which mediate allergic reactions

More from Merriam-Webster on mast cell

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