cell culture n.
The maintenance or growth of dispersed cells in a medium after removal from the body.
A culture of such cells.
cell culture
the maintenance and growth of the cells of multicellular organisms outside the body in specially designed containers and under precise conditions of temperature, humidity, nutrition, and freedom from contamination. In a broad sense, cells, tissues, and organs that are isolated and maintained in the laboratory are considered the objects of tissue culture. The techniques of cell culture have allowed scientists to use cultures of cells for experimental studies and for biological assays of many types. See tissue culture.
Learn more about cell culture with a free trial on Britannica.com.