eosinophilic
|eo-si-no-phil-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌiːoʊsɪnəˈfɪlɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌiːəʊsɪnəˈfɪlɪk/
stains with or attracted to eosin
Etymology
'eosinophilic' originates from New Latin and Greek via modern scientific naming, specifically the word 'eosin' (from Greek 'ēōs' meaning 'dawn' referring to a reddish color) combined with the Greek-derived suffix '-philic' from 'philos' meaning 'loving'.
'eosinophilic' changed from New Latin/French terms such as New Latin 'eosinophilus' and French 'éosinophile' (formed in the 19th century after the dye 'éosine'), and eventually became the modern English word 'eosinophilic' used in pathology and histology.
Initially, it meant 'staining readily with the dye eosin' in histological contexts, but over time it has broadened to include the clinical sense 'having or characterized by an increased number of eosinophils'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
staining readily with eosin (a red acidic dye) or having an affinity for eosin; used in histology to describe cells or tissue components that take up eosin and appear red/pink.
The biopsy showed eosinophilic granules within the cytoplasm of the tumor cells.
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Adjective 2
characterized by or containing an increased number of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell); used clinically to describe conditions, infiltrates, or reactions with prominent eosinophil involvement.
The patient presented with eosinophilic pneumonia, showing marked eosinophilic infiltration on imaging and biopsy.
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Last updated: 2025/09/21 15:14