In the context of cell biology, what does 'cell eating' refer to?

'Cell eating' refers to the process by which a cell engulfs solid particles, leading to the formation of a phagosome that incorporates the material into the cell. This process is known as phagocytosis. It typically occurs when a cell, such as a white blood cell, recognizes a pathogen or cellular debris and surrounds it with its membrane to absorb it.

In contrast, exocytosis is the mechanism by which substances are expelled from the cell, rather than taken in. Pinocytosis, often referred to as 'cell drinking,' involves the uptake of liquid substances and small particles, not large solid entities. Diffusion is a passive transport process that involves the movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration, which does not involve engulfing or internalizing substances in the way phagocytosis does. Therefore, phagocytosis distinctly characterizes 'cell eating' due to its specific function in engulfing and digesting large particles.