cell

noun

ˈsel

Synonyms of cell next

: a single room (as in a convent or prison) usually for one person

: a one-room dwelling occupied by a solitary person (such as a hermit)

: a basic and usually small unit of an organization or movement

terrorist cells

: cell phone

: any of the small sections of a geographic area of a cellular (see cellular entry 1 sense 3) telephone system

: a small compartment, cavity, or bounded space: such as

: one of the compartments of a honeycomb

: a membranous area bounded by veins in the wing of an insect

: 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

a(1)

: a receptacle containing electrodes and an electrolyte either for generating electricity by chemical action or for use in electrolysis

(2)

: fuel cell

: 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)

: 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

: a portion of the atmosphere that behaves as a unit

a storm cell

: a small religious house dependent on a monastery or convent

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

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.

Eventually, the polymer scaffold dissolves and the cells are washed away with a special solution. —

Emily Mullin, WIRED, 29 Jan. 2025 Around 350 ninth-grade students learned from 12 different demonstrations and research topics Wednesday, some of which included the science of growing cells, the exploration of bone disease through simulations, deep tissue technology and robotic prosthetics. —

Gael Langdon, arkansasonline.com, 29 Jan. 2025 Scientists have also discovered that the cells in the tongue that sense sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami tastes are spaced out across the tongue; some people are genetically more predisposed to liking sweets than others; and children tend to prefer the taste of sour candies more than adults do. —

Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025 Booze can also damage intestinal cells, allowing pathogens that are normally confined to the GI tract to travel throughout the bloodstream. —

Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 28 Jan. 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

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containing cell

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cell. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.

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Kids Definition

cell

noun

ˈsel

: a very small room (as in a convent or prison) usually for one person

: a small compartment, cavity, or bounded space

the cells in a honeycomb often contain honey

: 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

: a container (as a jar) with electrodes and an electrolyte either for generating electricity by chemical action or for use in electrolysis

: a single unit in a device for changing radiant energy into electrical energy

: cell phone

celled

ˈseld

adjective

Medical Definition

cell

noun

ˈsel

: a small compartment or bounded space

: 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

Last Updated: 1 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences

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cell

noun

Illustration of cell

Synonyms

Examples of cell in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near cell

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition