megaloblast: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / TechnicalSpecialist / Medical
Quick answer
What does “megaloblast” mean?
An abnormally large, immature red blood cell precursor with a large nucleus, characteristic of certain anemias, especially those caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An abnormally large, immature red blood cell precursor with a large nucleus, characteristic of certain anemias, especially those caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.
In hematology, any large, nucleated erythroblast (red blood cell precursor) appearing in bone marrow when red blood cell production is disordered, typically in megaloblastic anemias.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Purely medical/clinical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Identically rare and confined to medical contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “megaloblast” in a Sentence
The bone marrow biopsy showed numerous megaloblasts.Megaloblasts are characteristic of vitamin B12 deficiency.The presence of megaloblasts indicates disordered erythropoiesis.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “megaloblast” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The blood film showed a megaloblastic picture.
- Megaloblastic changes were evident in the marrow.
American English
- The smear revealed megaloblastic morphology.
- Megaloblastic transformation was confirmed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Exclusively used in medical, biological, and hematology textbooks and research papers.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Core term in clinical hematology, pathology reports, and medical diagnostics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “megaloblast”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “megaloblast”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “megaloblast”
- Pronouncing it as 'mega-lo-blast' with equal stress on all syllables. Primary stress is on 'meg'.
- Using it as a general term for any large cell.
- Misspelling as 'megloblast' or 'megaloblas'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a highly specialised medical term used almost exclusively by healthcare professionals and students of medicine or biology.
A megaloblast is abnormally large and has a nucleus that appears less mature (open chromatin pattern) compared to a normoblast, the normal precursor. This is due to impaired DNA synthesis.
It is extremely rare. Megaloblasts signify a profound disorder in red blood cell production, which almost invariably leads to anemia (megaloblastic anemia).
They are caused by deficiencies in vitamin B12 or folate, or by drugs that interfere with DNA synthesis. These deficiencies disrupt the normal maturation cycle of red blood cells.
An abnormally large, immature red blood cell precursor with a large nucleus, characteristic of certain anemias, especially those caused by vitamin B12 or folate deficiency.
Megaloblast is usually specialist / medical in register.
Megaloblast: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɛɡ(ə)lə(ʊ)blɑːst/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɛɡəloʊˌblæst/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MEGA (large) + BLAST (immature cell). A 'mega-blast' of an immature blood cell that's too big.
Conceptual Metaphor
PATHOLOGICAL ENTITY AS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT (A flawed, oversized component on a cellular production line).
Practice
Quiz
In which condition are megaloblasts most commonly found?