cell
Americannoun
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a small room, as in a convent or prison.
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any of various small compartments or bounded areas forming part of a whole.
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a small group acting as a unit within a larger organization.
a local cell of the Communist party.
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Biology. a usually microscopic structure containing nuclear and cytoplasmic material enclosed by a semipermeable membrane and, in plants, a cell wall; the basic structural unit of all organisms.
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Entomology. one of the areas into which the wing of an insect is divided by the veins.
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Botany. locule.
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Electricity.
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Also called electrochemical cell,. Also called galvanic cell,. Also called voltaic cell. Also called electric cell,. Also called battery. a device that generates electrical energy from chemical energy, usually consisting of two different conducting substances placed in an electrolyte.
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Also called electrolytic cell. Physical Chemistry. a device for producing electrolysis, consisting essentially of the electrolyte, its container, and the electrodes.
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Aeronautics. the gas container of a balloon.
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Ecclesiastical. a monastery or nunnery, usually small, dependent on a larger religious house.
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Telecommunications.
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one of the distinct geographical areas covered by a radio transmitter in a cellular phone system.
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verb (used without object)
noun
noun
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a small simple room, as in a prison, convent, monastery, or asylum; cubicle
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any small compartment
the cells of a honeycomb
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biology the basic structural and functional unit of living organisms. It consists of a nucleus, containing the genetic material, surrounded by the cytoplasm in which are mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, and other organelles. All cells are bounded by a cell membrane; plant cells have an outer cell wall in addition
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biology any small cavity or area, such as the cavity containing pollen in an anther
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a device for converting chemical energy into electrical energy, usually consisting of a container with two electrodes immersed in an electrolyte See also primary cell secondary cell dry cell wet cell fuel cell
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short for electrolytic cell
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a small religious house dependent upon a larger one
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a small group of persons operating as a nucleus of a larger political, religious, or other organization
Communist cell
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maths a small unit of volume in a mathematical coordinate system
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zoology one of the areas on an insect wing bounded by veins
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the geographical area served by an individual transmitter in a cellular radio network
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The basic unit of living matter in all organisms, consisting of protoplasm enclosed within a cell membrane. All cells except bacterial cells have a distinct nucleus that contains the cell's DNA as well as other structures (called organelles) that include mitochondria, the endoplasmic reticulum, and vacuoles. The main source of energy for all of a cell's biological processes is ATP.
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See more at eukaryote prokaryote
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Any of various devices, or units within such devices, that are capable of converting some form of energy into electricity. Cells contain two electrodes and an electrolyte.
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See more at electrolytic cell solar cell voltaic cell
Discover More
Groups of cells with similar structure and function form tissues.
Other Word Forms
- cell-like adjective
Etymology
Origin of cell
First recorded before 1150; 1665–75 cell for def. 4; Middle English celle, from Old French celle, from Medieval Latin cella “monastic cell,” Latin: “room”; Old English cell, from Medieval Latin, as above; cella
Explanation
Cell has several different meanings, but all of them are similar. Whether it's in a prison or in your blood (or even in the political landscape), a cell is a small room, space, or unit. Blood is composed of countless individual cells, as are virtually all of the organs of the body: skin, liver, lungs, brain, etc. The cell is the basic unit of all biology. A cell in a prison is the room in which a prisoner lives. But did you know that a cell can also be a small group of people devoted to a larger political cause? The government's security forces are constantly on the lookout for terrorist "sleeper cells" and would love to get the members of a sleeper cell into a prison cell.
Vocabulary lists containing cell
"Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, Act II
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Computer Science and Technology - Introductory
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Computer Science and Technology - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A model of how one of GluBio’s experimental ‘molecular glue’ drugs causes two proteins in the human body, WIZ and cereblon, to stick to each other in a way designed to relieve sickle cell disease.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Among the many rules at Augusta National — no cell phones, no booing, no lying in the grass — patrons are not allowed to run.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
In collaboration with scientists at Cornell University, they used a method that allows multiple cell types to be seen simultaneously.
From Science Daily • Apr. 9, 2026
Garfield had yet to be arrested, but Jodie had been searched, fingerprinted, placed in a cell and, after interview, was released on bail.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
He knew there wasn’t a cell signal because he’d been checking his phone since they’d left the school.
From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.