cell

[ sel ]

/ sɛl /

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.

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

Definition for cells (2 of 4)

cell²

[ sel ]

/ sɛl /

noun

cel.

Definition for cells (3 of 4)

cel

or cell

[ sel ]

/ sɛl /

noun

a transparent celluloid sheet on which a character, scene, etc., is drawn or painted and which constitutes one frame in the filming of an animated cartoon: may be overlapped for change of background or foreground.

Origin of cel

by shortening of celluloid

Definition for cells (4 of 4)

cell phone

or cell·phone

[ sel-fohn ]

/ ˈsɛlˌfoʊn /

noun

a wireless telephone using a system of low-powered radio transmitters, with each transmitter covering a distinct geographical area (cell), and computer equipment to switch a call from one area to another, thus enabling broad-scale portable phone service.

such a wireless telephone that has other functions, as text messaging or Internet access.

mobile phone.

Also called cel·lu·lar phone, cel·lu·lar tel·e·phone.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for cells

The cells are austere—essentially hardened trailers—that cost about $40,000 each to build.
9/11 Mastermind Is Afraid of the Ladies|Tim Mak|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
African-Americans, wrote Mailer, “known down to the cells of [their] existence that life is war, nothing but war.”
The FBI’s Bogus ISIS Bust|James Poulos|November 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The cells that hold its 49 inmates for 22 hours a day were a few feet bigger, and no one shares.
Here’s a Reform Even the Koch Brothers and George Soros Can Agree On|Tina Brown|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Those with the disease have some cells that are genetically normal and some with the mutation.
The True Story of ‘The Elephant Man’|Russell Saunders|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The surface is porous; the cells are distant and arranged irregularly, and seem as if composed of sand cemented with mud.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide|Augusta Foote Arnold
Ellis, writing in 1765, supposes that they were the orifices of the cells occupied by the polypi.
The Ocean World:|Louis Figuier
The cells of its own generation that were crowded in the other direction made part of an annual layer of bark.
Trees Worth Knowing|Julia Ellen Rogers
It has been stated that they are more or less specific in their action on cells.
The Fundamentals of Bacteriology|Charles Bradfield Morrey
This structure consists of a non-vascularized network of fibres, in the meshes of which cells are imbedded.
A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I|Various

British Dictionary definitions for cells (1 of 3)

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 cells (2 of 3)

cell²

/ (sɛl) /

noun

a variant spelling of cel

British Dictionary definitions for cells (3 of 3)

cel

cell

/ (sɛl) /

noun

short for celluloid (def. 2b), celluloid (def. 2c)

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

Medical definitions for cells

cell

[ sĕl ]

n.

The smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of independent functioning, consisting of one or more nuclei, cytoplasm, and various organelles, all surrounded by a semipermeable cell membrane.

A small enclosed cavity or space.

Scientific definitions for cells

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 cells (1 of 3)

cell

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

Cultural definitions for cells (2 of 3)

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 cells (3 of 3)

cell phone

A portable telephone that uses wireless cellular technology to send and receive phone signals. This technology works by dividing the Earth into small regions called cells. Within each cell the wireless telephone signal goes over its assigned bandwidth to a cell tower, which relays the signal to a telephone switching network, connecting the user to the desired party.

notes for cell phone

The proximity to a cell tower is often the key to good reception when using a cell phone.

cell

noun

verb (used without object)

Words related to cell

Origin of cell

OTHER WORDS FROM cell

Definition for cells (2 of 4)

noun

Definition for cells (3 of 4)

or cell

noun

Origin of cel

Definition for cells (4 of 4)

or cell·phone

noun

Examples from the Web for cells

British Dictionary definitions for cells (1 of 3)

noun

Derived forms of cell

Word Origin for cell

British Dictionary definitions for cells (2 of 3)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for cells (3 of 3)

cell

noun

Medical definitions for cells

n.

Scientific definitions for cells

Other words from cell

Cultural definitions for cells (1 of 3)

Cultural definitions for cells (2 of 3)

notes for cell

Cultural definitions for cells (3 of 3)

notes for cell phone