definition of killer t cell
Noun. 1. cytotoxic T cell-T cell with CD8 receptor that recognizes antigens on the surface of a virus-infected cell and binds to the infected cell and kill it. CD8 cell, CD8 T cell, killer cell, killer T cell. T cell, T lymphocyte-a small lymphocyte developed in the thymus; it orchestrates the immune system's response to infected or malignant cells.