Definition

A type of white blood cell that has granules that can be easily stained with basic dyes, playing a role in the immune response.

Example

Basophiles are important for allergic reactions and inflammation.

Conversation

I was reading about different types of white blood cells, and I came across something called a basophile.

Oh really? What does a basophile do exactly?

They release histamine and play a role in allergic reactions.

That’s interesting! I didn’t know they were involved in that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Basophile → It is formed from "baso-" (from Greek "basis", meaning base or foundation) and "-phile" (from Greek "philos", meaning loving or fond of). The word describes a substance or organism that is fond of or attracted to a basic environment or base substances.

Memory Tip

Think of 'base' ('baso-') and 'loving' ('-phile') to remember that a basophile is something that loves or is attracted to basic substances.

Visually Confused Words