antibody

UK/ˈæn.tiˌbɒd.i/US/ˈæn.tɪˌbɑ.di/

nounB2+Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #12,259 of 15,258leans written

Other forms: antibodies

An antibody is one of the tiny defenders your blood builds against an invader. Produce antibodies, an antibody test, antibody levels.

Each one is shaped to lock onto one specific target, which is why immunity to one disease gives none against another. After an infection or a vaccination the body keeps the recipe, which is what makes the second response faster. An antibody test shows past exposure rather than current infection. Note that the word is a translation of the German Antikörper.

Definitions of antibody

1nounantibodyA protein the blood builds to lock onto one invader.B2+
“After the vaccine, your body produces antibodies against the virus.”

antibody is an immune protein.

Also accepted in games: antibodies

Where it comes from

Anti- plus body, translating the German Antikörper. The word was coined in the 1890s as immunology was being founded.

German
Antikörper
English, today
antibody

From anti- + body, a German Antikörper.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Body & Health, Science & Space

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antibody in the wild

The reaction between an antigen and an antibody is called the antigen-antibody reaction.
Antigen
To allow the immune system to recognize millions of different antigens, the antigen-binding paratopes at each tip of the antibody come in an equally wide variety.
Antibody
The class refers to the functions triggered by the antibody (also known as effector functions), in addition to some other structural features.
Antibody
Then, a matching antibody is applied over the surface so it can bind the antigen.
ELISA
Humoral immunity is also referred to as antibody-mediated immunity.
Humoral immunity

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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