eosinophil /ē′əsin″əfil/ [Gk, eos, dawn, philein, to love] , a granulocytic bilobed leukocyte characterized by large numbers of regular refractile cytoplasmic granules that stain bright orange with the acid dye eosin. Eosinophils constitute 1% to 3% of the white blood cells in peripheral blood films. They increase in number with allergy and some parasitic conditions and decrease with steroid administration. Compare basophil, neutrophil. −eosinophilic, adj.
