mastocyte

M3A1S1T1O1C3Y4T1E1

noun

mast cell

Similar
mast celllabrocyte
OriginGerman Mastzelle f ← Ancient Greek κύτος →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounmastocyte (plural mastocytes)

plural mastocytes

  1. medicinemast cell

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna large connective tissue cell that contains histamine and heparin and serotonin which are released in allergic reactions or in response to injury or inflammation

Similar
mast celllabrocyte
Broader
somatic cellvegetative cell
Also see
labrocytemast cell

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκύτος“cell”
  2. GermanMastzelle f
  3. Englishmastocyte

From German Mastzelle f, "feeding cell," coined in 1878 by immunologist Paul Ehrlich; "Mast" + Ancient Greek κύτος (kútos, “cell”). Not a cognate with the Ancient Greek root μαστός (mastós, “(human) breast”).

More words from German, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

mastocyte. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mastocyte

MLA

“mastocyte.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mastocyte. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “mastocyte,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/mastocyte.

Source: mastocyte on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.