a tiny, somewhat mitten-shaped organelle occurring in great numbers in the cell cytoplasm either freely, in small clusters, or attached to the outer surfaces of endoplasmic reticula, and functioning as the site of protein manufacture.
ri·bo·some (rī'bə-sōm') n. A minute round particle composed of RNA and protein that is found in the cytoplasm of living cells and serves as the site of assembly for polypeptides encoded by messenger RNA.
Main Entry: ri·bo·some Pronunciation: 'rI-b&-"sOm Function: noun : any of the RNA- and protein-rich cytoplasmic organelles that are sites ofprotein synthesis —ri·bo·som·al/"rI-b&-'sO-m&l/adjective
ribosome ri·bo·some (rī'bə-sōm') n. A minute round cytoplasmic particle composed of RNA and protein that is the site of protein synthesis as directed by mRNA.