basophil

UK: /ˈbeɪsəfɪl/ US: (bā′sə fil)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ba•so•phil  (bā′sə fil), n. 

1. Cell Biology [Biol.] a basophilic cell, tissue, organism, or substance.
2. Anatomy a white blood cell having a two-lobed nucleus and basophilic granules in its cytoplasm.

adj. 

3. Cell Biology [Biol.] basophilic.

Also, ba•so•phile  (bā′sə fīl′, -fil). 

• bas(ic dye) + -o- + -phil 1885–90

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

basophil / ˈbeɪsəfɪl/, basophile adjective
also: basophilic / ˌbeɪsəˈfɪlɪk/

1. (of cells or cell contents) easily stained by basic dyes

noun

1. a basophil cell, esp a leucocyte

Etymology: 19th Century: from Greek; see base¹ + -phile

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ba•so•phil•ic  (bā′sə fil′ik), adj. [Biol.]

1. Laboratory having an affinity for basic stains.

Also, ba•soph•i•lous  (bā sof′ə ləs), basophil, basophile. 

• basophil + -ic 1890–95