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cell wall
noun
: the usually rigid nonliving permeable wall that surrounds the plasma membrane and encloses and supports the cells of most plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae see cell illustration
Examples of cell wall in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ferulic acid is a powerful antioxidant found naturally in the cell walls of plants like oats, rice bran, and apples.
—Venus Wong, refinery29.com, 10 Oct. 2024
Blueberries can be frozen, says Benson; however, the freezing process, which causes the cell walls of the berry to burst, results in a changed texture.
—Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2024
One way cooking makes some nutrients more accessible is by breaking down the cell walls of asparagus.
—Melissa Nieves, Verywell Health, 16 Sep. 2024
In 2002, scientists isolated a strain of MRSA that had become resistant to vancomycin, the drug of choice for MRSA infections, by modifying part of its cell wall so that the drug could no longer latch on.
—Dhruv Khullar, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1840, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near cell wall
Cite this Entry
“Cell wall.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cell%20wall. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
cell wall
noun
: the firm nonliving layer that encloses and supports the cells of most plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae
Medical Definition
cell wall
noun
: the usually rigid nonliving permeable wall that surrounds the plasma membrane and encloses and supports the cells of most plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae
More from Merriam-Webster on cell wall
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cell wall
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