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cellular respiration

American

[sel-yuh-ler res-puh-rey-shuhn] / ˈsɛl yə lər ˌrɛs pəˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

Physiology.

the oxidation of organic compounds that occurs within cells, producing energy for cellular processes.

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How does cellular-respiration compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

photosynthesis vs. cellular respiration

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.

The compound is absorbed mainly by specific cancer cells, where it disrupts critical biological functions including cellular respiration and DNA production.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

Mitochondria use oxygen during cellular respiration to produce energy.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

Some vegetable crops have a very high cellular respiration rate, and so deteriorate quickly after harvest.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 10, 2023

Your crops are undergoing cellular respiration as they grow, and continue to do so after you pick them.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 10, 2023

All organisms perform cellular respiration using oxygen and lipids, which are produced by photosynthesis.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023