cell

[ sel ]

/ sɛl /

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See synonyms for: cell / cells on Thesaurus.com

noun

a small room, as in a convent or prison.

any of various small compartments or bounded areas forming part of a whole.

a small group acting as a unit within a larger organization: a local cell of the Communist party.

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.

Entomology. one of the areas into which the wing of an insect is divided by the veins.

Botany. locule.

Electricity.

Also called battery, electric cell, electrochemical cell, galvanic cell, voltaic cell. a device that generates electrical energy from chemical energy, usually consisting of two different conducting substances placed in an electrolyte.Compare dry cell.
solar cell.

Also called electrolytic cell. Physical Chemistry. a device for producing electrolysis, consisting essentially of the electrolyte, its container, and the electrodes.

Aeronautics. the gas container of a balloon.

Ecclesiastical. a monastery or nunnery, usually small, dependent on a larger religious house.

Telecommunications.

one of the distinct geographical areas covered by a radio transmitter in a cellular phone system.
cell phone.

verb (used without object)

to live in a cell: The two prisoners had celled together for three years.

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Origin of cell

before 1150; 1665–75 for def. 4; Middle English celle<Old French celle<Medieval Latin cella monastic cell, Latin: room (see cella); Old English cell<Medieval Latin, as above; see cella

OTHER WORDS FROM cell

cell-like, adjective

Words nearby cell

celibacy, celibate, Céline, celioscope, celiotomy, cell, cella, cellar, cellarage, cellar dwellers, cellarer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cell in a sentence

It also works offline, so it’s handy even if there is no cell service.
Three Family-Friendly Adventures to Try This Fall|Outside Editors|September 17, 2020|Outside Online
Consequently, we who are dominated by a bacterial ecosystem ten times larger than our own body’s cells also belong to the great continuum of life.
What the Meadow Teaches Us - Issue 90: Something Green|Andreas Weber|September 16, 2020|Nautilus
In theory, that could prompt the formation of not just antibodies but also T cells and specialized forms of immunity in the nasal passage, leading to broader protection.
Synthetic biologists have created a slow-growing version of the coronavirus to give as a vaccine|David Rotman|September 16, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The genetic mutation results in sickle-shaped red blood cells.
A CRISPR Baby Future? New Report Outlines Path to Human Germline Editing|Shelly Fan|September 15, 2020|Singularity Hub

These types of cells are also specifically targeted by the coronavirus.
Lung cell images show how intense a coronavirus infection can be|Jonathan Lambert|September 15, 2020|Science News
Joel Osteen wants to talk about muting your cell phone at the dinner table.
No Gods, No Cops, No Masters|James Poulos|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At that point, the Library of Congress can once again decide to prohibit consumers from unlocking their cell phones.
Nazis, Sunscreen, and Sea Gull Eggs: Congress in 2014 Was Hella Productive|Ben Jacobs|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Earlier this year, security at major airports was tightened because of a tip that al-Asiri had been working on a cell phone bomb.
A Gift to the Jihadis: The Unseen Airport Security Threat|Clive Irving|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At least one of those ubiquitous cell phone cameras began filming.
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop|Michael Daly|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, four of 20 cells at Cobalt were found to have bars across the cell to allow this.
Inside the CIA’s Sadistic Dungeon|Tim Mak|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In his condemned cell he composed a beautiful poem of 14 verses (“My last Thought”), which was found by his wife and published.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
Some writers state that each cell contains about one thousand seeds.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Any epithelial cell may be so granular from degenerative changes that the nucleus is obscured.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The sediment contains a few hyaline and finely granular casts and an occasional red blood-cell.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
The megaloblast is probably a distinct cell, not merely a larger size of the normoblast.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for cell (1 of 2)

cell¹

/ (sɛl) /

noun

a small simple room, as in a prison, convent, monastery, or asylum; cubicle

any small compartmentthe cells of a honeycomb

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

biology any small cavity or area, such as the cavity containing pollen in an anther

a device for converting chemical energy into electrical energy, usually consisting of a container with two electrodes immersed in an electrolyteSee also primary cell, secondary cell, dry cell, wet cell, fuel cell

short for electrolytic cell

a small religious house dependent upon a larger one

a small group of persons operating as a nucleus of a larger political, religious, or other organizationCommunist cell

maths a small unit of volume in a mathematical coordinate system

zoology one of the areas on an insect wing bounded by veins

the geographical area served by an individual transmitter in a cellular radio network

Derived forms of cell

cell-like, adjective

Word Origin for cell

C12: from Medieval Latin cella monk's cell, from Latin: room, storeroom; related to Latin cēlāre to hide

British Dictionary definitions for cell (2 of 2)

cell²

/ (sɛl) /

noun

a variant spelling of cel

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for cell

cell

[ sĕl ]

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. See more at eukaryote prokaryote.

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. See more at electrolytic cell solar cell voltaic cell.

Other words from cell

cellular adjective

Cultural definitions for cell (1 of 2)

cell

The basic unit of all living things except viruses. In advanced organisms, cells consist of a nucleus (which contains genetic material), cytoplasm, and organelles, all of which are surrounded by a cell membrane.

notes for cell

Groups of cells with similar structure and function form tissues.

Cultural definitions for cell (2 of 2)

cell

A region of the atmosphere in which air tends to circulate without flowing outward.

cell

Origin of cell

OTHER WORDS FROM cell

Words nearby cell

Words related to cell

How to use cell in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for cell (1 of 2)

Derived forms of cell

Word Origin for cell

British Dictionary definitions for cell (2 of 2)

Scientific definitions for cell

Other words from cell

Cultural definitions for cell (1 of 2)

notes for cell

Cultural definitions for cell (2 of 2)