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organelle
noun
or·gan·elle
ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel
: a specialized cellular part (such as a mitochondrion, chloroplast, or nucleus) that has a specific function and is considered analogous to an organ
Examples of organelle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And often the organelles, like the mitochondria that are present in the cytoplasm, will rupture.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024
Scientists had previously tried transferring plant chloroplasts into fungi cells, but the cells’ cleanup squad destroyed foreign organelles within hours.
—Saugat Bolakhe, Scientific American, 7 Jan. 2025
In fact, the hallmark of this cell death is that there’s very open chromatin, and then organelles, rather than waiting till the end of the death process to exhibit defects, right from the beginning tend to swell.
—Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024
To synthesize amino acids, the organelles must divert molecules that would otherwise go toward making ATP, potentially reducing the cell’s production of energy.
—Bymitch Leslie, science.org, 8 Nov. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
New Latin organella, from Latin organum
First Known Use
1915, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near organelle
Cite this Entry
“Organelle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organelle. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
organelle
noun
or·gan·elle
ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel
: a structure (as a mitochondrion) in a cell that performs a special function
Medical Definition
organelle
noun
or·gan·elle
ˌȯr-gə-ˈnel
: a specialized cellular part (as a mitochondrion or nucleus) that has a specific function and is considered analogous to an organ
More from Merriam-Webster on organelle
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about organelle
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