antiglobulin
|an-ti-glo-bu-lin|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈɡloʊ.bjʊ.lɪn/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈɡləʊ.bjʊ.lɪn/
antibody against globulins
Etymology
'antiglobulin' originates from New Latin/medical coinage, specifically from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') combined with 'globulin' (from Latin 'globulus'), where 'anti-' meant 'against' and 'globulin' referred to a class of serum proteins.
'antiglobulin' changed from the combination of New Latin/medical elements 'anti-' + 'globulin' (with 'globulin' itself derived from Latin 'globulus' meaning 'small sphere') and eventually became the modern English medical term 'antiglobulin'.
Initially, it meant 'against globulins' in a literal morphological sense, but over time it evolved into its current specialized meaning of 'an antibody or reagent that reacts with globulins (used diagnostically)'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an antibody that reacts with globulins (especially antibodies used as reagents to detect other antibodies bound to cells or proteins); also, a reagent containing such antibodies (as used in the antiglobulin or Coombs test).
An antiglobulin reagent was added to the blood sample to detect antibodies bound to the red cells.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/01 15:03