antibody: Meaning and Definition of

an•ti•bod•y

Pronunciation: (an'ti-bod"ē), [key]
— pl. -bod•ies.
  1. any of numerous-shaped protein molecules produced by B cells as a primary immune defense, each molecule and its clones having a unique binding site that can combine with the complementary site of a foreign antigen, as on a virus or bacterium, thereby disabling the antigen and signaling other immune defenses. Abbr.: Ab
  2. antibodies of a particular type collectively. Also called
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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