anabiotic cell

an·a·bi·ot·ic cell

a cell that is capable of resuscitation after apparent death; the existence of anabiotic tumor cells is postulated to explain the recurrence of a cancer after a lengthy period without symptoms following surgery.

anabiotic cell

An obsolete term for a cell allegedly capable of reviving itself after apparent cell death; the concept of anabiosis was once evoked to explain the recurrence of malignancy after prolonged remission.

an·a·bi·ot·ic cell

(an'ă-bī-ot'ik sel) Cell that is capable of resuscitation after apparent death; the existence of anabiotic tumor cells is postulated to explain the recurrence of a cancer after a very long symptomless period following operation.