stem cell

noun

: an unspecialized cell that gives rise to differentiated cells

hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow

Examples of stem cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

MSCs are adult stem cells found in bone marrow that can turn into different types of cells. —Amy Feldman, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

By communicating through biochemical signals with hair follicle stem cells, macrophages create the environment necessary to jump-start hair growth. —Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2025

An estimated 18,000 people each year are diagnosed with a disease that may best be treated with stem cells. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025

Nutrition also promotes the development of building blocks for stem cells essential for the skin barrier to regenerate and repair itself. —Matt Fuchs, TIME, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stem cell

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

stem cell

noun

: a simple cell that can become a cell (as a blood cell or skin cell) with a special function

Medical Definition

stem cell

noun

ˈstem- 

: an unspecialized cell capable of perpetuating itself through cell division and having the potential to give rise to differentiated cells with specialized functions

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage of the embryo.

—Carrie J. Merkle, in Essentials of Pathophysiology

… picture the bone marrow as a blood cell factory that takes a single type of precursor cell, or stem cell, and modifies it in various ways to produce all the cells that circulate in the blood.

—Gina Kolata, Discover

Recent observations are providing increasing evidence for the concept that adult stem cells are part of a natural system for tissue repair.

—Darwin J. Prockop, in Essentials of Stem Cell Biology