thymocyte

/ˈθaɪməˌsaɪt/
noun
  1. A type of white blood cell that develops in the thymus gland and matures into a T cell, which helps the immune system fight infections.
    • Researchers are studying how thymocytes learn to tell the difference between the body's own cells and invaders.
    • The doctor explained that thymocytes become T cells that attack viruses.
    • Thymocytes are produced in the bone marrow and then travel to the thymus to mature.