: a membranous area bounded by veins in the wing of an insect
5
: a small usually microscopic mass of protoplasm bounded externally by a semipermeable membrane, usually including one or more nuclei and various other organelles with their products, capable alone or interacting with other cells of performing all the fundamental functions of life, and forming the smallest structural unit of living matter capable of functioning independently
6
a(1)
: a receptacle containing electrodes and an electrolyte either for generating electricity by chemical action or for use in electrolysis
: a single unit in a device for converting radiant energy into electrical energy or for varying the intensity of an electrical current in accordance with radiation (see radiationsense 1)
7
: a unit in a statistical array (see arrayentry 2 sense 5) (such as a spreadsheet) formed by the intersection of a column and a row
8
: a portion of the atmosphere that behaves as a unit
a storm cell
9
: a small religious house dependent on a monastery or convent
Illustration of cell
A plant
B animal
1 cell wall
2 middle lamella
3 plasma membrane
4 mitochondrion
5 vacuole
6 Golgi apparatus
7 cytoplasm
8 nuclear membrane
9 nucleolus
10 nucleus
11 chromatin
12 endoplasmic reticulum with associated ribosomes
The suspect was in the police station's holding cell overnight.
his mission was to locate and infiltrate the terrorist cell that was believed to be hiding in the city
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Victor said the immigration officer moved the men to another cell.—Lauren Petracca, New York Times, 29 May 2025 After a brain injury, NMDA receptors can become overexcited, causing further cell death, so quieting these receptors might prevent additional damage.—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 29 May 2025 Vitamin D can also help reduce inflammation in the body, improve immune function, and increase cell growth.—Erica Sweeney, Time, 28 May 2025 As of Tuesday, authorities in Louisiana were still hunting for Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves, more than a week after the two men and eight other – now captured – inmates escaped through a hole in the wall behind a cell toilet in a jail in Orleans Parish.—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for cell
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Old English, religious house and Anglo-French celle hermit's cell, from Latin cella small room; akin to Latin celare to conceal — more at hell
First Known Use
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 9
Time Traveler
The first known use of cell was
before the 12th century
: a very small room (as in a convent or prison) usually for one person
2
: a small compartment, cavity, or bounded space
the cells in a honeycomb often contain honey
3
: one of the tiny units that are the basic building blocks of living things, that carry on the basic functions of life either alone or in groups, and that include a nucleus and are surrounded by a membrane
4
a
: a container (as a jar) with electrodes and an electrolyte either for generating electricity by chemical action or for use in electrolysis
b
: a single unit in a device for changing radiant energy into electrical energy
: a small usually microscopic mass of protoplasm bounded externally by a semipermeable membrane, usually including one or more nuclei and various nonliving products, capable alone or interacting with other cells of performing all the fundamental functions of life, and forming the smallest structural unit of living matter capable of functioning independently
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