An important defense against infection

• Process in which phagocytes engulf and digest microorganisms and cellular debris

Wikipedia Word definitions in Wikipedia
In cell biology , phagocytosis is the process by which a cell —often a phagocyte or a protist —engulfs a solid particle to form an internal vesicle known as a phagosome . Phagocytosis is a specific form of endocytosis involving the vascular internalization ...

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
n. process in which phagocytes engulf and digest microorganisms and cellular debris; an important defense against infection

Wiktionary Word definitions in Wiktionary
n. (context immunology cytology English) The process where a cell incorporates a particle by extending pseudopodia and drawing the particle into a vacuole of its cytoplasm.