cell membrane

noun

plural cell membranes

: a membrane of a cell

especially : a semipermeable limiting layer of cell protoplasm consisting of a fluid phospholipid bilayer with intercalated proteins : plasma membrane

Despite being much maligned in the popular press, cholesterol plays a crucial role in organizing cell membranes and controlling their physical properties.

—Amanda Yarnell

… a cascade of reactions culminating in the transfer of a phosphate group to a protein complex that carries ions across the cell membrane.

—Science News

Examples of cell membrane in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Life on an acidic world might use a different set of lipids than the ones in our cell membranes, but the physics of membrane formation would look the same, if Petkowski and his colleagues are right. —Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 20 Feb. 2025

First observed in a common lab bacterium only 14 years ago, bacterial nanotubes are structures made of cell membrane that allow nutrients and resources to flow between two or more cells. —Veronique Greenwood, WIRED, 9 Feb. 2025

This results in the cell membrane bursting.5 Since viruses like the ones that cause influenza and colds do not have cell walls, this type of antibiotic medication will not kill them and the illness will persist. —Femi Aremu, Verywell Health, 19 Dec. 2024

One group causes a general toxicity to cells, enabled by disruption of the cell membrane, while a different subset has the ability to block the receptor for a neurotransmitter. —Ars Technica, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cell membrane

• aeroplane
• appertain
• ascertain
• capitaine
• cassegrain
• cellophane
• chatelaine
• counterpane
• entertain
• gethsemane
• halothane
• hurricane

Kids Definition

cell membrane

noun

: a semipermeable outside layer surrounding the contents of a cell

Medical Definition

cell membrane

noun

: a membrane of a cell

especially : plasma membrane