-cyte
cell
From Greek kytos, hollow vessel
Meaning
What does -cyte mean?
-cyte is a suffix meaning cell. It comes from Greek kytos, hollow vessel.
The same Greek word gives cyt/o at the front of words (cytology); at the end, -cyte names a cell by its color, tissue or job.
In real words
Medical words with -cyte
erythrocyte
a red blood cell, the cell that carries oxygen around the body · In the dictionary
leukocyte
a white blood cell, one of the immune system's cells carried in the blood · UK spelling: leucocyte · In the dictionary
a white blood cell made in the bone marrow and found in blood and lymph tissue, where it helps control immune responses
an immune cell, such as a neutrophil or macrophage, that surrounds and kills microbes and clears away dead cells
thrombocyte
a platelet, a tiny cell fragment in the blood that helps form clots · In the dictionary
a large white blood cell with one nucleus that engulfs germs and debris
a lymphocyte that develops in the thymus and goes on to become a T cell
hepatocyte
a liver cell, the main cell type of liver tissue
In the dictionary
More terms built with it
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- MedlinePlus: Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean
- -CYTE Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
- Suffixes – Medical Terminology: An Interactive Approach
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Endings that make nouns and adjectives
-cyte is one of 14 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
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