antibody

Definitions

anti- (against) + body = a protein that works 'against bodies' — that is, against foreign bodies like viruses and toxins. Your immune system manufactures antibodies that lock onto a specific invader and flag it for destruction.

Why It Means This

The 'body' in antibody uses body in its broad sense of 'a thing with form.' Doctors once spoke of any foreign object in the blood as a 'body'; an antibody is what the immune system raises against such bodies. After infection or vaccination, these antibodies linger and recognize the same enemy faster next time.

Common Collocations

• 1.antibody test抗体检测
• 2.antibody production抗体产生
• 3.produce antibodies产生抗体
• 4.antibody response抗体反应

Example Sentences

• 1.

  The vaccine triggers the body to produce antibodies.

• 2.

  A blood test can detect antibodies from a past infection.

• 3.

  These antibodies attack the virus before it spreads.

Easily Confused

antibody vs antigen — easy to swap. An antigen is the invader (the foreign substance, like part of a virus); the antibody is your defender that targets it. Antigen = enemy; antibody = soldier.