cell

noun

ˈsel How to pronounce cell (audio)
Synonyms of cellnext
1
a
: a single room (as in a convent or prison) usually for one person
b
: a one-room dwelling occupied by a solitary person (such as a hermit)
2
: a basic and usually small unit of an organization or movement
terrorist cells
3
a
: cell phone
b
: any of the small sections of a geographic area of a cellular (see cellular entry 1 sense 3) telephone system
4
: a small compartment, cavity, or bounded space: such as
a
: one of the compartments of a honeycomb
b
: a membranous area bounded by veins in the wing of an insect
5
: a small usually microscopic mass of protoplasm bounded externally by a semipermeable membrane, usually including one or more nuclei and various other organelles with their products, capable alone or interacting with other cells of performing all the fundamental functions of life, and forming the smallest structural unit of living matter capable of functioning independently
6
a(1)
: a receptacle containing electrodes and an electrolyte either for generating electricity by chemical action or for use in electrolysis
(2)
: fuel cell
b
: a single unit in a device for converting radiant energy into electrical energy or for varying the intensity of an electrical current in accordance with radiation (see radiation sense 1)
7
: a unit in a statistical array (see array entry 2 sense 5) (such as a spreadsheet) formed by the intersection of a column and a row
8
: a portion of the atmosphere that behaves as a unit
a storm cell
9
: a small religious house dependent on a monastery or convent

Illustration of cell

Illustration of cell
  • A plant
  • B animal
  • 1 cell wall
  • 2 middle lamella
  • 3 plasma membrane
  • 4 mitochondrion
  • 5 vacuole
  • 6 Golgi apparatus
  • 7 cytoplasm
  • 8 nuclear membrane
  • 9 nucleolus
  • 10 nucleus
  • 11 chromatin
  • 12 endoplasmic reticulum with associated ribosomes
  • 13 chloroplast
  • 14 centriole
  • 15 lysosome

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of cell in a Sentence

The suspect was in the police station's holding cell overnight. his mission was to locate and infiltrate the terrorist cell that was believed to be hiding in the city
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For example, if an accumulation of cells block the bile ducts, a patient can develop cirrhosis, or liver damage. —David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025 Human retinas typically have three types of cone cells, which are what allow our eyes to detect various wavelengths of light. —Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2025 Normal vision involves all three cone cells in the retina — S, L, and M, which are respectively sensitive to blue, red and green — and the three types' functions overlap. —Rachel Raposas, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025 Amalgamations of single cells, biofilms grow and develop into unified life forms that can split back into their component cells under duress. —Carrie Arnold, Quanta Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cell

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English, religious house and Anglo-French celle hermit's cell, from Latin cella small room; akin to Latin celare to conceal — more at hell

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 9

Time Traveler
The first known use of cell was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing cell

Rhymes for cell

See All Rhymes for cell

Browse Nearby Words

Celite
cell
cella
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cell. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

cell

noun
ˈsel How to pronounce cell (audio)
1
: a very small room (as in a convent or prison) usually for one person
2
: a small compartment, cavity, or bounded space
the cells in a honeycomb often contain honey
3
: one of the tiny units that are the basic building blocks of living things, that carry on the basic functions of life either alone or in groups, and that include a nucleus and are surrounded by a membrane
4
a
: a container (as a jar) with electrodes and an electrolyte either for generating electricity by chemical action or for use in electrolysis
b
: a single unit in a device for changing radiant energy into electrical energy
5
: cell phone
celled
ˈseld
adjective

Medical Definition

cell

noun
ˈsel How to pronounce cell (audio)
1
: a small compartment or bounded space
2
: a small usually microscopic mass of protoplasm bounded externally by a semipermeable membrane, usually including one or more nuclei and various nonliving products, capable alone or interacting with other cells of performing all the fundamental functions of life, and forming the smallest structural unit of living matter capable of functioning independently

More from Merriam-Webster on cell

Nglish: Translation of cell for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cell

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