Immune-system
noun, Anatomy.
1.
a diffuse, complex network of interacting cells, cell products, and cell-forming tissues that protects the body from pathogens and other foreign substances, destroys infected and malignant cells, and removes cellular debris: the system includes the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes and lymph tissue, stem cells, white blood cells, antibodies, and lymphokines.
immune system n.
The integrated body system of organs, tissues, cells, and cell products that differentiates self from nonself and neutralizes potentially pathogenic organisms or substances.
immune system
The body system in humans and other animals that protects the organism by distinguishing foreign tissue and neutralizing potentially pathogenic organisms or substances. The immune system includes organs such as the skin and mucous membranes, which provide an external barrier to infection, cells involved in the immune response, such as lymphocytes, and cell products such as lymphokines. See also autoimmune disease, immune response.
The system in the body that works to ward off infection and disease. Central to this system are the white blood cells. Some white blood cells produce antibodies in response to specific antigens that may invade the body; others function as scavengers to fight infection by destroying bacteria and removing dead cells.
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immunifacient im·mu·ni·fa·cient (ĭ-myōō’nə-fā’shənt) adj. Producing immunity.
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[im-yuh-nahyz, ih-myoo-nahyz] /ˈɪm yəˌnaɪz, ɪˈmyu naɪz/ verb (used with object), immunized, immunizing. 1. to make . 2. to render harmless or ineffective; neutralize. 3. Law. to grant (a witness) . /ˈɪmjʊˌnaɪz/ verb 1. to make immune, esp by inoculation v. 1889, from immune + -ize. Related: Immunized; immunizing. immunize im·mu·nize (ĭm’yə-nīz’) v. im·mu·nized, im·mu·niz·ing, im·mu·niz·es […]
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[ih-myoo-ni-tee] /ɪˈmyu nɪ ti/ noun, plural immunities. 1. the state of being immune from or insusceptible to a particular disease or the like. 2. the condition that permits either natural or acquired resistance to disease. 3. the ability of a cell to react immunologically in the presence of an antigen. 4. exemption from any natural […]
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noun, Law. 1. the giving of testimony that is self-incriminating in order to avail oneself of the immunity granted a witness.