antibodies
|an-ti-body|
🇺🇸
/ˈæntɪˌbɑːdi/
🇬🇧
/ˈæntɪˌbɒdi/
(antibody)
immune defense protein
Etymology
'antibody' originates from German 'Antikörper' (anti- + Körper), where 'anti-' came from Greek meaning 'against' and 'Körper' meant 'body'. The English form is a calque/adaptation used in scientific contexts.
'Antikörper' (German) was coined in the late 19th century in immunology; this term was translated/adapted into English as 'antibody' in scientific literature and became the standard English term.
Initially used to refer to substances (often called antitoxins) that neutralized toxins, the meaning evolved to refer specifically to immunoglobulin proteins that recognize particular antigens.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a protein produced by the immune system that recognizes and binds to a specific antigen (often called an immunoglobulin).
The lab detected antibodies against the virus in her blood.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the presence of antibodies in the blood considered collectively, often used as an indicator of prior infection or immunity (measured in serology tests).
A high level of antibodies usually indicates prior infection or successful vaccination.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/28 01:51