phagocytosis (thing)

1. The process by which a cell is engulfed and broken down by another for purposes of defense or sustenance.
   
   
2. The uptake of extracullular materials by the formation of a pocket from the cellular membrane and its subsequent pinching off. Compare endocytosis and pinocytosis.

From the BioTech Dictionary at http://biotech.icmb.utexas.edu/. For further information see the BioTech homenode.