# platelet

/ˈpɫeɪtɫət/ (US) · /plˈeɪtlət/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/platelet
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a tiny piece of a blood cell that helps your blood stop bleeding when you get a cut. It sticks together to form a clot and protect the wound.

For teachers: a small, colorless, disc-shaped cell fragment in the blood that is involved in blood clotting. It functions by aggregating at the site of an injury to form a plug and initiate the coagulation cascade.

## Examples

- The platelet helps your blood stop flowing after a small cut.
- When you cut your skin, platelets in your blood travel to the site to form a clot and prevent further blood loss.
- A deficiency in platelets can lead to excessive bleeding, as the body lacks the necessary components to form a stable clot following vascular injury.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.