Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

cells

 - 9 dictionary results
Cell Biology in 24 Hours
Master the Course Fast Visually, Rich Media Movies Expert Narration.
RapidLearningCenter.com/biology

cell

1  [sel]
Use cells in a Sentence
–noun
1. a small room, as in a convent or prison.
2. any of various small compartments or bounded areas forming part of a whole.
3. a small group acting as a unit within a larger organization: a local cell of the Communist party.
4. Biology. a usually microscopic structure containing nuclear and cytoplasmic material enclosed by a semipermeable membrane and, in plants, a cell wall; the basic structural unit of all organisms.
5. Entomology. one of the areas into which the wing of an insect is divided by the veins.
6. Botany. locule.
7. Electricity.
a. Also called battery, electric cell, electrochemical cell, galvanic cell, voltaic cell. a device that generates electrical energy from chemical energy, usually consisting of two different conducting substances placed in an electrolyte. Compare dry cell.
b. solar cell.
8. Also called electrolytic cell. Physical Chemistry. a device for producing electrolysis, consisting essentially of the electrolyte, its container, and the electrodes.
9. Aeronautics. the gas container of a balloon.
10. Ecclesiastical. a monastery or nunnery, usually small, dependent on a larger religious house.
11. Telecommunications. See under cellular phone.
–verb (used without object)
12. to live in a cell: The two prisoners had celled together for three years.
Origin:
bef. 1150; 1665–75 for def. 4; ME celle < OF celle < ML cella monastic cell, L: room (see cella ); OE cell < ML, as above; see cella

Related forms:
cell-like, adjective
Cell Biology in 24 Hours
Master the Course Fast Visually, Rich Media Movies Expert Narration.
RapidLearningCenter.com/biology

cell

2  [sel]
–noun
cel.

cel

  [sel]
–noun
a transparent celluloid sheet on which a character, scene, etc., is drawn or painted and which constitutes one frame in the filming of an animated cartoon: may be overlapped for change of background or foreground.
Also, cell.

Origin:
by shortening of celluloid
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To cells
cell   (sěl)   


(click for larger image in new window)
n.  

  1. A narrow confining room, as in a prison or convent.

  2. A small enclosed cavity or space, such as a compartment in a honeycomb or within a plant ovary or an area bordered by veins in an insect's wing.

  3. Biology The smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of independent functioning, consisting of one or more nuclei, cytoplasm, and various organelles, all surrounded by a semipermeable cell membrane.

  4. Architecture See web.

  5. The smallest organizational unit of a centralized group or movement, especially of a political party of Leninist structure.

  6. Electricity

    1. A single unit for electrolysis or conversion of chemical into electric energy, usually consisting of a container with electrodes and an electrolyte; a battery. Also called electrochemical cell.

    2. A single unit that converts radiant energy into electric energy: a solar cell.

  7. A fuel cell.

  8. Computer Science A basic unit of storage in a computer memory that can hold one unit of information, such as a character or word.

  9. A geographic area or zone surrounding a transmitter in a cellular telephone system.

  10. A storm cell.

  11. A small humble abode, such as a hermit's cave or hut.

  12. A small religious house dependent on a larger one, such as a priory within an abbey.

  13. A box or other unit on a spreadsheet or similar array at the intersection of a column and a row.

v.   celled, cell·ing, cells

v.   tr.
To store in a honeycomb.
v.   intr.
To live in or share a prison cell.

[Middle English celle, from Old English cell and from Old French, both from Latin cella, chamber; see kel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Cultural Dictionary

cell

The basic unit of all living things except viruses. In advanced organisms, cells consist of a nucleus (which contains genetic material), cytoplasm, and organelles, all of which are surrounded by a cell membrane.

Note: Groups of cells with similar structure and function form tissues.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

cell 
c.1131, "small room," from L. cella "small room, hut," related to L. celare "to hide, conceal," from PIE base *kel- "conceal" (cf. Skt. cala "hut, house, hall;" Gk. kalia "hut, nest," kalyptein "to cover," koleon "sheath," kelyphos "shell, husk;" L. cella "store room," clam "secret;" O.Ir. cuile "cellar," celim "hide," M.Ir. cul "defense, shelter;" Goth. hulistr "covering," O.E. heolstor "lurking-hole, cave, covering," Goth. huljan "cover over," hulundi "hole," hilms "helmet," halja "hell," O.E. hol "cave," holu "husk, pod"). Earliest sense is for monastic rooms, then prison rooms (1722). Used in biology 17c., but not in modern sense until 1845. Meaning "small group of people working within a larger organization" is from 1925. Cellphone is from 1984.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: Cel
Function: abbreviation
Celsius

Main Entry: cell
Pronunciation: 'sel
Function: noun
1 : a small compartment or bounded space
2 : a small usually microscopic massof 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 thefundamental functions of life, and forming the smallest structural unit of living matter capable of functioning independently
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

cell (sěl)
n.

  1. The smallest structural unit of an organism that is capable of independent functioning, consisting of one or more nuclei, cytoplasm, and various organelles, all surrounded by a semipermeable cell membrane.

  2. A small enclosed cavity or space.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see cells on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way