cellulose
noun
cel·lu·lose ˈsel-yə-ˌlōs 
-ˌlōz
: a polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x of glucose units that constitutes the chief part of the cell walls of plants, occurs naturally in such fibrous products as cotton and kapok, and is the raw material of many manufactured goods (such as paper, rayon, and cellophane)
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web An ironic air freshener, certainly, for this is Perry, Florida, home to an enormous cellulose plant. 
Joy Williams, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022 NatureWorks has become something of a game changer in the United Kingdom, where PG Tips, a big name in tea, has switched from polyester tea bags to bags made with cellulose and a thin layer of NatureWorks' PLA that are fully compostable, Ford said. CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 NatureWorks has become something of a game changer in the United Kingdom, where PG Tips, a big name in tea, has switched from polyester tea bags to bags made with cellulose and a thin layer of NatureWorks’ PLA that are fully compostable, Ford said. Mark Gillispie, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 Walls Rigid foam board installed under new siding can add a bit of R-value to a home’s exterior, but dense-pack cellulose blown inside the wall cavities provides the best insulation. Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 12 June 2022 Many producers add crafty ingredients like potassium sorbate, cheese cultures and cellulose, which is essentially wood pulp. Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 2 June 2022 Inspired by club chair Lignage d’Hermes, the wood frame is covered in a new type of cellulose microfiber from Puglia, Italy and then hand-painted. Damon Johnstun, oregonlive, 26 May 2022 Scientists at the University of Tennessee found that plant cellulose could work better than the additives manufacturers currently use to slow the growth of ice crystals. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 Mar. 2022 The bait would kill cellulose-digesting protozoa in the termite gut, leading to the termite's death. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2022 See More
Joy Williams, The New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2022 NatureWorks has become something of a game changer in the United Kingdom, where PG Tips, a big name in tea, has switched from polyester tea bags to bags made with cellulose and a thin layer of NatureWorks' PLA that are fully compostable, Ford said. CBS News, 9 Aug. 2022 NatureWorks has become something of a game changer in the United Kingdom, where PG Tips, a big name in tea, has switched from polyester tea bags to bags made with cellulose and a thin layer of NatureWorks’ PLA that are fully compostable, Ford said. Mark Gillispie, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2022 Walls Rigid foam board installed under new siding can add a bit of R-value to a home’s exterior, but dense-pack cellulose blown inside the wall cavities provides the best insulation. Jon Gorey, BostonGlobe.com, 12 June 2022 Many producers add crafty ingredients like potassium sorbate, cheese cultures and cellulose, which is essentially wood pulp. Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes, 2 June 2022 Inspired by club chair Lignage d’Hermes, the wood frame is covered in a new type of cellulose microfiber from Puglia, Italy and then hand-painted. Damon Johnstun, oregonlive, 26 May 2022 Scientists at the University of Tennessee found that plant cellulose could work better than the additives manufacturers currently use to slow the growth of ice crystals. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 Mar. 2022 The bait would kill cellulose-digesting protozoa in the termite gut, leading to the termite's death. Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 May 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
French, from cellule living cell, from New Latin cellula
First Known Use
1848, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing cellulose
Kids Definition
cellulose
noun
cel·lu·lose ˈsel-yə-ˌlōs
: a substance that is the chief part of the cell walls of plants and is used in making various products (as paper and rayon)
Medical Definition
cellulose
noun
cel·lu·lose ˈsel-yə-ˌlōs, -ˌlōz
: a polysaccharide (C6H10O5)x of glucose units that constitutes the chief part of the cell walls of plants, occurs naturally in such fibrous products as cotton and kapok, and is the raw material of many manufactured goods (as paper, rayon, and cellophane)