organelle
[ awr-guh-nel, awr-guh-nel ]
/ ˌɔr gəˈnɛl, ˈɔr gəˌnɛl /
Save This Word!
noun
Cell Biology. a specialized part of a cell having some specific function; a cell organ.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!
Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between it’s and its in this crafty quiz!
Question 1 of 12
On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.
Words nearby organelle
organ, organa, organ culture, organdie, organdy, organelle, organelles, organ grinder, organic, organic acid, organically
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for organelle
British Dictionary definitions for organelle
organelle
/ (ˌɔːɡəˈnɛl) /
noun
a structural and functional unit, such as a mitochondrion, in a cell or unicellular organism
Word Origin for organelle
C20: from New Latin organella, from Latin organum: see organ
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 organelle
organelle
[ ôr′gə-nĕl′ ]
n.
A differentiated structure within a cell, such as a mitochondrion, vacuole, or microsome, that performs a specific function.organoid
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for organelle
organelle
[ ôr′gə-nĕl′ ]
A structure or part that is enclosed within its own membrane inside a cell and has a particular function. Organelles are found only in eukaryotic cells and are absent from the cells of prokaryotes such as bacteria. The nucleus, the mitochondrion, the chloroplast, the Golgi apparatus, the lysosome, and the endoplasmic reticulum are all examples of organelles. Some organelles, such as mitochondria and chloroplasts, have their own genome (genetic material) separate from that found in the nucleus of the cell. Such organelles are thought to have their evolutionary origin in symbiotic bacteria or other organisms that have become a permanent part of the cell.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.