cell division

American  

noun

Biology.

1. the division of a cell in reproduction or growth.

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cell division British  

noun

1. cytology the division of a cell into two new cells during growth or reproduction See amitosis meiosis mitosis

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cell division Scientific  

1. The process by which a cell divides into two or more cells. Among prokaryotes, cell division occurs by simple fission. Among eukaryotes, the cell nucleus divides first, and then a new cell membrane is formed between the nuclei to form the new cell. Cell division is used as a means of reproduction in organisms that reproduce asexually, as by fission or spore formation, and sexually reproducing organisms form gametes through cell division. Cell division is also the source of tissue growth and repair in multicellular organisms. The two types of cell division in eukaryotic organisms are mitosis and meiosis.

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Etymology

Origin of cell division

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Dr. Thomas Bornschlögl, other lead author, from the same L'Oréal team adds: "This reveals that hair growth is not driven only by cell division -- instead, outer root sheath actively pull the hair upwards."

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

This cluster contains the genetic information needed to produce proteins responsible for both cell division and the construction of the bacterial cell wall.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

They redesigned the yeast cell cycle so that cell division depended on the behavior of the protein being evolved.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

"In many types of tumors, this protein is one of the central drivers of cell division and thus of uncontrolled tumor growth," explains Martin Eilers.

From Science Daily • Jan. 24, 2026

The doubling continued in future divisions until further cell division became mechanically impossible.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson