A cell is the smallest part of an animal or plant that is able to function independently.Every animal or plant is made up of millions of cells.
Those cells divide and give many other different types of cells.
...blood cells.
Soap destroys the cell walls of bacteria.
2. countable noun
A cell is a small room in which a prisoner is locked. A cell is also a small room in which a monk or nun lives.
3. countable noun [usually noun NOUN]
You can refer to a small group of people within a larger organization as a cell.
...Communist Party cells.
More Synonyms of cell
cell in British English1
(sɛl)
noun
1.
a small simple room, as in a prison, convent, or monastery; cubicle
2.
any small compartment
the cells of a honeycomb
3. biology
the basic structural and functional unit of living organisms. It consists of a nucleus, containing the genetic material, surrounded by the cytoplasm in which are mitochondria, lysosomes, ribosomes, and other organelles. All cells are bounded by a cell membrane; plant cells have an outer cell wall in addition
4. biology
any small cavity or area, such as the cavity containing pollen in an anther
5.
a device for converting chemical energy into electrical energy, usually consisting of a container with two electrodes immersed in an electrolyte
See also primary cell, secondary cell, dry cell, wet cell, fuel cell
6. short for electrolytic cell
7.
a small religious house dependent upon a larger one
8.
a small group of persons operating as a nucleus of a larger political, religious, or other organization
Communist cell
9. mathematics
a small unit of volume in a mathematical coordinate system
10. zoology
one of the areas on an insect wing bounded by veins
11.
the geographical area served by an individual transmitter in a cellular radio network
Derived forms
cell-like (ˈcell-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C12: from Medieval Latin cella monk's cell, from Latin: room, storeroom; related to Latin cēlāre to hide
cell in British English2
(sɛl)
noun
a variant spelling of cel
cell in American English
(sɛl)
noun
1.
a small convent or monastery attached to a larger one
2.
a hermit's hut
3.
a small room or cubicle, as in a convent or prison
4.
a very small hollow, cavity, or enclosed space
; specif.,
a.
any of the compartments in a honeycomb
b.
a small, hollow space in tissue, esp. in bone
c.
the space of an insect's wings enclosed by the veins
d.
any compartment of an ovary; also, a pollen sac or spore sac
5.
any of the smallest organizational units of a group or movement, as of a Communist party
6. Biology
a very small, complex unit of protoplasm, usually with a nucleus, cytoplasm, and an enclosing membrane: all plants and animalsare made up of one or more cells that usually combine to form various tissues
7. Electricity
a.
an open or sealed container holding electrodes and an electrolyte, used to generate electricity by chemical reactions or to decompose compounds by electrolysis
b.
any compartment of a storage battery
c.
a unit within any device, as a solar battery, that produces voltage by converting radiant energy into electrical energy
Derived forms
celled
adjective
Word origin
ME < OE < OFr celle < L cella, small room, hut (LL(Ec), monastic cell) < IE base *kel-, to conceal > hall, hell, hull2, Goth halja
COBUILD Collocations
cell
abnormal cells
cancer cells
cancerous cells
damage cells
destroy cells
healthy cells
holding cell
inject cells
liver cells
protect cells
remove cells
share a cell
sperm cells
tiny cell
Examples of 'cell' in a sentence
cell
This may have been a sign that hydrogen was leaking from one of the cells.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
Iron is important because we need it to make new blood cells that carry oxygen around the body.
The Sun (2016)
Or that one of your cells hasn't just decided to become cancerous?
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
These chunks of tissue churn out healthy red blood cells according to the donor's genetic code.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Signals are sent to the bone marrow to produce more white blood cells, which can arteries.
The Sun (2017)
About a third have leukaemia, which is cancer of the white blood cells.
The Sun (2016)
My skin's cell turnover is also slowing down.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
It is the cell walls and plant starch that isn't absorbed by the body.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
A study of white blood cells taken from individuals afflicted by spots showed that they had longer protective caps on the ends of their chromosomes.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Just one skinless chicken thigh contains more than half of our daily requirement of vitamin B12, which our bodies need to make red blood cells.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The activity of this organism inside the plant cells leads to swelling and distorted growth.
The Sun (2009)
When a light is shone on the cancerous area the affected cells appear to glow.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Why the cells were able to reproduce so spectacularly has not been solved yet.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Three prisoners were crammed into a cell designed for one person.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They contained not only cells but also all the facilities which were needed for a constructive existence.
Coyle, Andrew & Stern, Vivien The Prisons We Deserve (1994)
We begin with the nucleus at the center of a cell.
Christianity Today (2000)
The rays heat the lung tissue and blood cells until they form a seal.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
So far it has been limited to inserting small numbers of human genes or cells into animals.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Smear tests involve a small sample of cells being taken from the cervix.
The Sun (2014)
Take the example of plant cell structure.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The cell has since divided more than a billion times.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The scheme will target the ten areas where cell use is the highest.
The Sun (2016)
Cancer cells are not able to recover from this damage and they die.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The cells formed new blood vessels where heart disease had ravaged the original ones.
The Sun (2007)
The technique involves replacing faulty mitochondria, which provide cells' energy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It can be used to replace faulty mitochondria, which provide cells with energy, inherited from mothers.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
cell
British English: cell /sɛl/ NOUN
biology A cell is the smallest part of an animal or plant. Animals and plants are made up of millions of cells.
...blood cells.
American English: cell
Arabic: خَلِيَّة
Brazilian Portuguese: célula
Chinese: 细胞
Croatian: ćelija
Czech: buňka
Danish: celle
Dutch: cel
European Spanish: célula
Finnish: solu
French: cellule
German: Zelle
Greek: κύτταρο
Italian: cellula
Japanese: 細胞
Korean: 세포
Norwegian: celle
Polish: komórka
European Portuguese: célula
Romanian: celulă
Russian: клетка
Latin American Spanish: célula
Swedish: cell
Thai: เซลล์
Turkish: hücre
Ukrainian: клітина
Vietnamese: tế bào
British English: cell NOUN
for prisoner A cell is a small room in which a prisoner is locked.
Do you recall how many prisoners were placed in each cell?
American English: cell
Brazilian Portuguese: cela
Chinese: 细胞
European Spanish: celda
French: cellule
German: Zelle
Italian: cella
Japanese: 細胞
Korean: 세포
European Portuguese: cela
Latin American Spanish: celda
All related terms of 'cell'
B-cell
any of the lymphocytes not derived from the thymus , that mature in the bone marrow and help to build antibodies
T-cell
A T-cell is a type of white blood cell.
beta cell
See B cell (sense 2 )
bone cell
a cell found in bone in any of its functional states ; an osteoblast, osteoclast , or osteocyte
cell body
the compact area of a nerve cell that constitutes the nucleus and surrounding cytoplasm , excluding the axons and dendrites
cell line
a clone of animal or plant cells that can be grown in a suitable nutrient culture medium in the laboratory
cell pack
a container made of cellular plastic , as one used for holding flowers or plants
cell wall
the outer layer of a cell , esp the structure in plant cells that consists of cellulose , lignin , etc, and gives mechanical support to the cell
dry cell
a primary cell in which the electrolyte is in the form of a paste or is treated in some way to prevent it from spilling
egg cell
any female gamete ; ovum
fat cell
a cell in connective tissue specialized for the synthesis of glucose , fatty acids, etc. and storage of the derived globules of fat
fuel cell
a cell in which the energy produced by oxidation of a fuel is converted directly into electrical energy
germ cell
a sexual reproductive cell; gamete
hair cell
any of the nerve cells of the inner ear having groups of projecting , hairlike receptors that are sensitive to vibrations and sound waves
half-cell
a cell consisting of an electrode immersed in a suitable electrolyte , designed to measure single electrode potentials
HeLa cell
a strain of cells derived from the first carcinoma cells to be continuously maintained in culture : still used in cancer and biological research
hot cell
a protected enclosure , usually made of concrete , containing shielded windows and manipulators operated by remote control, used to handle radioactive materials, as for processing , testing, etc.
jail cell
a small room in a jail where a prisoner is kept
mast cell
a type of granular basophil cell in connective tissue that releases heparin , histamine , and serotonin during inflammation and allergic reactions
red cell
→ erythrocyte
stem cell
A stem cell is a type of cell that can produce other cells which are able to develop into any kind of cell in the body.
tiny cell
A cell is a small room in which a prisoner is locked . A cell is also a small room in which a monk or nun lives.
unit cell
the smallest group of atoms , ions , or molecules that is characteristic of a particular crystal lattice
wet cell
a primary cell in which the electrolyte is a liquid
basal cell
a cell of the basal , or deepest , layer of the epidermis
blood cell
any of the cells that circulate in the blood
brain cell
a nerve cell that is situated in the brain
cell cycle
the growth cycle of eukaryotic cells. It is divided into five stages, known as G 0 , in which the cell is quiescent , G 1 and G 2 , in which it increases in size, S, in which it duplicates its DNA , and M, in which it undergoes mitosis and divides
cell damage
Damage is physical harm that is caused to an object.
cell phone
a mobile phone
Clark cell
a cell having a mercury cathode surrounded by a paste of mercuric sulphate and a zinc anode in a saturated solution of zinc sulphate. Formerly used as a standard, its emf is 1.4345 volts
collar cell
any of the flagellated cells in sponges that maintain a flow of water through the body. A collar of protoplasm surrounds the base of the flagellum
death cell
a prison cell for criminals sentenced to death
flame cell
an organ of excretion in flatworms : a hollow cup-shaped cell containing a bunch of cilia , whose movement draws in waste products and wafts them to the outside through a connecting tubule
giant cell
an exceptionally large cell, often possessing several nuclei , such as an osteoclast
guard cell
one of a pair of crescent-shaped cells that surround a pore ( stoma ) in the epidermis . Changes in the turgidity of the cells cause the opening and closing of the stoma
Hadley cell
an atmospheric convection pattern in which a current of hot equatorial air rises, divides, cools as it moves toward the poles , descends , and warms as it returns to the equator
killer cell
a type of white blood cell that is able to kill cells, such as cancer cells and cells infected with viruses
logic cell
a logic circuit forming part of a chip
lymph cell
a type of white blood cell formed in lymphoid tissue
nerve cell
→ neuron
padded cell
A padded cell is a small room with padded walls in a mental hospital or prison , where a person who may behave violently can be put so that they do not hurt themselves.
plasma cell
a type of white blood cell that produces antibodies , formed when a B cell interacts with an antigen
police cell
a small, secure room in a police station where criminals are detained temporarily
shear cell
A shear cell is a device for testing how a powder or particle mixture flows.
solar cell
A solar cell is a device that produces electricity from the sun's rays.
swarm cell
an asexual spore of some algae and fungi that moves by means of flagella
white cell
→ leukocyte
bimorph cell
a piezoelectric transducer consisting of two crystals cemented together, used in microphones , headphones , loudspeakers , etc. to convert vibrations into a voltage output or to convert a signal voltage into vibrations that can produce audible sounds
cadmium cell
a photocell with a cadmium electrode that is especially sensitive to ultraviolet radiation
Chinese translation of 'cell'
cell
(sɛl)
n(c)
(Bio) 细(細)胞 (xìbāo) (个(個), gè)
(in prison) 牢房 (láofáng) (间(間), jiān)
(in monastery) 单(單)人小室 (dānrén xiǎoshì)
(= group) 小组(組) (xiǎozǔ)
1 (noun)
Definition
a small simple room in a prison, convent, or monastery
They took her back to the cell, and just left her there.
Synonyms
room
He excused himself and left the room.
chamber
We shall dine together in my chamber.
lock-up
compartment
I put the ice cream in the freezer compartment of the fridge.
cavity
cubicle
dungeon
the ceiling of the tiny dungeon
stall
2 (noun)
Definition
a small group operating as the core of a larger organization
a spy cell of about three people
Synonyms
unit
a secret military unit
group
The recipes are divided into groups according to their main ingredients.
section
core
He has the ability to get straight to the core of a problem.
nucleus
The movement could become the nucleus of a new political party.
caucus
the Black Caucus of minority congressmen
coterie
The songs he recorded were written by a small coterie of dedicated writers.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of caucus
Definition
a local committee or faction of a political party
the Black Caucus of minority congressmen
Synonyms
group,
division,
section,
camp,
sector,
lobby,
bloc,
contingent,
pressure group,
junta,
public-interest group (US, Canadian)
in the sense of chamber
Definition
a room in a house, esp. a bedroom
We shall dine together in my chamber.
Synonyms
room,
bedroom,
enclosure,
cubicle
in the sense of compartment
Definition
a small storage space
I put the ice cream in the freezer compartment of the fridge.