cellulose

American  

[sel-yuh-lohs] / ˈsɛl yəˌloʊs /

noun

1. an inert carbohydrate, (C 6 H 10 O5 ) n, the chief constituent of the cell walls of plants and of wood, cotton, hemp, paper, etc.

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cellulose British  

/ -ˌləʊs, ˈsɛljʊˌləʊz /

noun

1. a polysaccharide consisting of long unbranched chains of linked glucose units: the main constituent of plant cell walls and used in making paper, rayon, and film

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cellulose Scientific  

/ sĕl′yə-lōs′ /

1. A carbohydrate that is a polymer composed of glucose units and that is the main component of the cell walls of most plants. It is insoluble in water and is used to make paper, cellophane, textiles, explosives, and other products.

2. See cellulose acetate

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cellulose Cultural  

1. A stringy, fibrous substance that forms the main material in the cell walls of plants. Cellulose is an organic molecule (see also organic molecules), composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.

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Other Word Forms

• cellulosic
  adjective
• cellulosity
  noun
• semicellulose
  noun

Etymology

Origin of cellulose

1745–55; < New Latin cellul ( a ) live cell ( see cellular) + -ose ²

Compare meaning

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

• cellulose vs. glycogen
• amylose vs. cellulose
• chitin vs. cellulose

Explanation

Cellulose is the substance that makes up the cell walls of plants. It's cellulose that makes the leaves of your snake plant stand up straight. Cellulose gives plants strength and structure, holding up stems and leaves, and even making tree trunks powerful enough to support towering trees. It's the most common macromolecule on earth, even though it’s not found in the human body. We can’t even digest cellulose, though horses and cows can, thanks to bacteria in their digestive tracts that help break down cellulose found in grass and hay.

Example Sentences

Cellulose acetate, from which the clips are made, comes from cellulose sourced from wood pulp or cotton.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Cellulose is composed of chains of glucose, held together by hydrogen bonds into crystalline structures.

From Science Daily • May 7, 2024

Cellulose: Made from up to 85% recycled paper and paper waste, cellulose resurrects old paper from the dead to keep your creepy cottage comfortable.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 20, 2023

Water vapour billows from smokestacks at the Smurfit Kappa Cellulose du Pin in Facture plant, southwestern France, December 22, 2009.

From Reuters • Jul. 27, 2022

Cellulose is insoluble in all menstrua, but, when boiled for a long time with sulphuric acid, is converted into a substance called dextrine.

From Elements of Agricultural Chemistry by Anderson, Thomas

Related Words

• glucose
• lactose
• starch
• sugar