vacuole

vac·u·ole   (vāk'yōō-ōl')    n.  A small cavity in the cytoplasm of a cell, bound by a single membrane and containing water, food, or metabolic waste. [French, from Latin vacuus, empty; see vacuum.] vac'u·o'lar (-ō'lər, -lär') adj., vac'u·o·la'tion n.

Main Entry: vac·u·ole
Pronunciation: 'vak-y&-"wOl
Function: noun
1 : a small cavity or space in the tissues of an organismcontaining air or fluid
2 : a cavity or vesicle in the cytoplasm of a cell containing fluid

vacuole vac·u·ole (vāk'y&oomacr;-ōl')
n.

1. A small cavity in the cytoplasm of a cell, bound by a single membrane and containing water, food, or metabolic waste.

2. A small space or cavity in a tissue.

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vac'u·o'lar (-ō'lər, -lär') adj.

vacuole   (vāk'y-ōl')  Pronunciation Key  A cavity within the cytoplasm of a cell, surrounded by a single membrane and containing fluid, food, or metabolic waste. Vacuoles are found in the cells of plants, protists, and some primitive animals. In mature plant cells, there is usually one large vacuole which occupies a large part of the cell's volume and is filled with a liquid called cell sap. The cell sap stores food reserves, pigments, defensive toxins, and waste products to be expelled or broken down. In the cells of protists, however, there may be many small specialized vacuoles, such as digestive vacuoles for the absorption of captured food and contractile vacuoles for the expulsion of excess water or wastes. See more at cell.