oat cell

noun

: any of the small round or oval cells with a high ratio of nuclear protoplasm to cytoplasm that resemble oat grains and are characteristic of a small-cell lung cancer

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of oat cell was in 1903

Dictionary Entries Near oat cell

Cite this Entry

“Oat cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oat%20cell. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

oat cell

noun
: any of the small round or oval cells with a high ratio of nuclear protoplasm to cytoplasm that resemble oat grains and are characteristic of small-cell lung cancer
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